In his opening up statement throughout the 30th Ordinary General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization kept in London, His Excellency (H.E.) Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority - Land and Maritime, revealed the UAE's commitment to provide an ideal setting to further drive the growth of international aquatic firms, supported by its tactical geographic area situated along some of the busiest trade routes worldwide. Speaking in the existence of His Excellency (H.E) Dr. Eng. Abdullah Salem Al Kathiri, Director General of the Federal Authority for Land and Marine Transport (FTA) and members of the candidate support team, Al Nuaimi showcased the UAEs competitive advantages matching the worlds leading maritime centres.

New members of the global organization were elected during the IMO's latest Basic Assembly, which offered a platform for highlighting the vital duty of the UAE in boosting the worldwide maritime system and driving even more development in global maritime trade, supported by its leading accomplishments in the field. The UAE takes care of 20 seaports, many of which rank amongst the world's leading 10 because of their first-rate infrastructure for maritime transport and shipping services.

H.E. Dr. Al Nuaimi also assessed the UAE's payments in shaping the future of the global maritime market by entering into agreements with the IMO and making relentless efforts to advertise the maritime industry. He shared that the UAE offers an ideal maritime platform for associating with the Arab nations, East Africa and the Indian Subcontinent, supplying access to leading markets in Europe and Asia. He explained that the UAE's regional supremacy, its third global standing in regards to port facilities high quality and sixth ranking in maritime port framework under the 2014-2015 Global Competitiveness Index, vouches for the nation's leading position as one of the top 10 oil and gas distributors to global maritime trade, especially as petroleum production is anticipated to increase from 2.9 million to 4 million barrels per day by 2040.

" The UAE deserves to be an IMO Category B member, provided its track record of management and excellence in establishing world-class ports. In 2014, the country obtained 13,507 international cruise ships, becoming one of the world's top four port operators. Jebel Ali Port positioned amongst the global top 10 ports in regards to performance in 2016. The UAE's highly competitive benefits in marine delivery are enhanced many thanks greatly to the assistance and endless support of the smart leadership to develop an integrated framework and progressed first-rate logistics facilities. The UAE is a founding partner of the United Arab Delivery Company, the largest container delivery line between East region and among the top 20 leading companies within the global maritime transport and shipping sector."

H.E. added: "Today, international self-confidence in the local maritime sector is high thanks to its modern legal and lawful atmosphere sticking to the highest possible global requirements. The UAE, a member of the International Maritime Company since 1980, has actually signed numerous global maritime methods such as the 1988 procedure on International Convention on Lots Lines, 1966, the 1988 procedure on the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974 and the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972. These strongly support the UAE's candidateship for Classification B membership under the IMO Council."

The Minister even more emphasized that the UAE considers the promotion of worldwide maritime participation a high priority, disclosing that the nation has signed greater than 25 bilateral agreements in the field of maritime transport.

" As one of the fastest growing maritime hubs in the world, the UAE seeks to include worth to global trade and international maritime transport and delivery. It is devoted to advertising the worldwide maritime system and developing and applying the standards controling maritime transport policy and law, "he stated.

He added: "The UAE prepares to carry out top quality research study, growth and innovation initiatives as part of its initiatives to form a new future for the maritime sector. In line with its dedication to lead technological advancement, the UAE has launched a digital platform to total purchases in ports without needing to submit paper forms, in accordance with the IMO Convention on Assistance of International Maritime Web traffic and in order to improve the performance of solutions offered in the local ports."

"In the field of training and education, the UAE is continually boosting the level of personnels to allow them to contribute to the development of the maritime field, in line with UAE Centennial 2071 which intends to invest in youths making the UAE the very best and most sophisticated country worldwide. I want to note, that the UAE supported the efforts of the International Maritime Company to establish the World Maritime University in Malm, Sweden. In the ecological area, the country is taking serious steps towards boosting environmental safety and security with its commitment to decrease greenhouse gas emissions in ports by 25 percent between 2020 and 2030, "he said.

" Our country is established to continue its march to consolidate its solid existence on the global maritime map, sustained by the assistance of our smart leadership. We are dedicated to sustain the IMO in applying its vision to develop a safe and secure maritime industry based on performance, obligation and sustainability. We wish to belong to the IMO Council, as it will supply us the chance to play a leading duty in developing the maritime system and increasing the growth of maritime trade around the world," H.E. concluded.

H.E. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, met H.E. Kitack Lim, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), to discuss the UAE's election for Group B subscription of the IMO Council. The conference included a conversation covering vital subjects such as the Disclosure of results of IMO Member State Audit Plan (IMSAS) program, which was carried out in May 2016, as well as the restorative work strategy in order to attain transparency and to gain from Member States' experiences. Conversations likewise consisted of the authorization of the Ballast Water Management Convention, which was taken on in 2004 and intends to prevent the spread of dangerous water organisms from one region to an additional though Federal Decree No (6) of 2017. The two sides likewise spoke about checking out potential collaboration in the port area and 'green' ports and ships, noting the choice to set the quantity of sulfur (0.5 per cent) for ship fuel that will take effect on January 2020, as well as cooperation in research on alternative clean fuel for ships.

The meeting additionally saw the testimonial of the continuous worldwide efforts associated with the Paris Convention of 2015 and the United Nations Plan of Action 2030, especially Goal No.( 13) within the Sustainable Advancement Goals - taking immediate activity to fight environment adjustment and its impacts through control in between the UAE Ministry of Environment Adjustment and Environment, UAE Maritime Transportation Authorities and the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME), to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from ships.

Al Nuaimi showcased the UAE's initiatives to guarantee the effective application of FTA's technique for the maritime market in accordance with its set objectives for 2018-2023, which will be taken on during the General Setting Up of IMO at the end of this year, with combination and expedition of possibilities in the IMO's Technical Collaboration Program 2018-2019 as part of the FTA's tasks - further making sure the assimilation in between FTA'S strategy and IMO's Technical Cooperative Program and the UN's 2030 Sustainable Growth Goals, specifically Goal No.( 14) within the Sustainable Growth Goals to 'Conserve and sustainably make use of the oceans, seas and marine sources.'

The conference concluded by discussing the launch of a scholarship program for UAE citizens looking for a bachelor's degrees in aquatic specializeds. The program looks towards awarding deserving students with a scholarship to finish their researches at the World Maritime University (WMU) and the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) as part of UAE's government Leadership Growth Program, which is intended to encourage future leaders, in addition to the company and implementation of regional workshops on the supervision of category authorities.

It's worth mentioning that a group has been established to sustain the election of the UAE to the IMO Council, making up reps from the Federal Transportation Authority Land & Maritime, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Power, Ports and Free Areas Authority, Federal Traditions Authority and the Dubai Maritime City Authority, ADNOC, DP World, Abu Dhabi Ports, Sharjah Ports and Traditions Division, SAQR Port Authority in Ras Al Khaimah and Emirates Rating Authority.