MEDIA RELEASE | 20 October 2011 | ||
Pacific Ports addressing tomorrow’s challenges & opportunities Re-elected President of the Pacific Maritime Transport Alliance (PMTA), Mr. Brian Riches said this to participants at the 36th PMTA Conference held from the 16th to 17th October this year in Suva, Fiji. “PMTA is taking steps through its new constitution and strategic plan so that we conform to the new and increasing responsibilities in the maritime sector including the regional transport service framework and implementation plan and be a part of the global ports community,” Mr. Riches said. He said PMTA is also taking the necessary steps to become a truly valued and important source of support, resources and knowledge and a real maritime industry voice, a lobby group in “our” region – representing the views, issues and aspirations of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories maritime industry and supply chain participants. “All these cannot be achieved without your support and I take this opportunity to encourage all members to participate through discussions and resources available to us via the South Pacific Community (SPC), its Economic Development Division and our PMTA,” Mr. Riches said. “I sincerely thank the members of the (PMTA) Executive Committee, your support, your acknowledgement of the need for significant change for the PMTA to meet today’s needs and foresee tomorrow’s challenges today and to work towards capitalising on these changes and challenges to create a better future for ourselves and future generations,” he said. Significant sustainable change does not come by itself, it requires vision, resources and a strong will and want to meet and exceed the challenges of change. Mr. Riches acknowledged the SPC and its EDD for their support and continued efforts in assisting the PMTA improve, transform and develop. “Through their efforts and their funding resources we have seen and will continue to see positive change and development and with the adoption by this Conference of the Strategic Plan, the real work is just beginning and I look forward to all of us working together to build a great Alliance,” Mr. Riches said. Pacific countries including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and new associate members Alrite International, Klein System and Qsafe Solutions participated at the 36th PMTA Conference. Mr. Riches was re-elected as President for the fourth term in a row to carryon current improvements and projects under his leadership. For more information, please contact: | |||
| |||