January 12 2007
Tshwane - Transport Minister Jeff Radebe will on Sunday, 14 January receive
to South Africa the Secretary-General of the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO), HE Mr Efthimios Mitropoulos and the South African High
Commissioner in London, HE Dr Lindiwe Mabuza.
During his official 4-day stay in South Africa, on the 15 January, the
Secretary-General will pay a courtesy visit to His Excellency, the President of
the Republic of South Africa, President Thabo Mbeki.
The Secretary-General will also hold individual briefings with the Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs and senior government officials, and depart for
Cape Town where he will be received by the Western Cape MEC for Transport.
On the 16 January the Secretary-General will meet the South African Maritime
Safety Authority (SAMSA) and later, together with Minister Radebe, officially
launch the Sub-regional Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) - whose
purpose is to deal with maritime catastrophes that might occur in search and
rescue regions.
On the 17 January, the Secretary-General meets with different industry
stakeholders including, seafarers, maritime training institutions, shipping
lines and shippers, port operators and the port authority.
He will attend a Gala Dinner where he will deliver a keynote address and
also receive from the Minister of Transport a gift and donation towards the
International Maritime Security Trust Fund.
South Africa was re-admitted to the membership of the IMO in 1995 - a United
Nations (UN) Specialised Agency currently consisting of 163 member states. The
IMO principally represent the traditional maritime countries and those that
rely heavily on the shipping services of the major ship-owning countries.
It is charged with the responsibility of facilitating co-operation among
governments in the form of regulatory and enforcement practices relating to
technical matters affecting shipping engaged in international trade including
maritime safety and security, efficiency of navigation and prevention and
control of marine pollution from ships.
South Africa has been elected as a Category "C" member of the IMO Council on
three occasions, the most recent election being in December 2005.
Appointed by the IMO Council with the approval of the Assembly, the
Secretary-General is a full-time official of the IMO who is responsible for the
day-to-day running of the Organisation.
The Secretary-General is the Chief Administrative Officer of the IMO
representing the IMO at different international platforms where issues with
policy implications for the maritime industry are discussed. These include
among others, meetings of the World Trade Organisation, World Customs
Organisation, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the
European Union.
The South African economy is an open economy in which over ninety percent
(90%) of her exports and imports, by volume and by value, are carried by
sea.
This makes South Africa to be heavily reliant on maritime transport to
sustain her international trade and thereby grow her economy for the good of
its citizenry.
Contact:
Sam Monareng
Cell: 083 326 1521
Issued by: Department of Transport
12 January 2007
Source: SAPA
