The UAE membership nomination file to the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, has been commended by the IMO Secretary General Kitak Lim who lauded the distinguished potential boasted by the UAE maritime infrastructure.

"The UAE is playing an effective role in bolstering the global maritime transport sector, being one of the key IMO members. We always benefit from UAE experience at the IMO meetings and look forward to constructively working together," he said during the IMO general meetings held recently in London to review issues of central importance to the global maritime sector and the best practices followed by world advanced countries in this field.

The UAE has officially submitted its file of nomination to the IMO under the category B during the meetings.

Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development, and Chairman of Federal Transport Authority - Land and Maritime, represented the UAE during the meetings and shed extensive light on the country's contributions to the global maritime sector.

The decision to get nominated under the Category B comes in fruition of the pivotal role played by the country as a major player in the international maritime trade sector on the back of its prestigious stature as the world's third best in terms of the quality of port infrastructure, Dr. Abdullah stated during the meetings.

"Our resilient infrastructure comes on top of the enablers for growth and competitiveness thanks to the unswerving support lent by our wise leadership in harmony with the UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda which aims to ensure provision of integrated infrastructure conducive to ensuring sustainable development," the minister said, noting that the country is home to twenty world-class seaports.

He highlighted the advanced ranking secured by the UAE in the Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017 issued by World Economic Forum where the UAE comes second to none on the Arab level in terms of the quality of port infrastructure and the third best the world over.

The UAE is vying with 11 leading countries in areas of international maritime trade, primarily, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Brazil, Argentine, France and Australia. The members will be elected during IMO's 30th General Assembly meeting, to be held on November 24th-December 5th

Source: Wam