Sri Lanka hosts Asian Shippers' Council AGM

The AGM of the Asian Shippers Council (ASC) will be hosted in Colombo from August 13-15 at the Colombo Hilton where representatives from 18 countries and two territories will meet.

This is the first time that Sri Lanka is able to host the event and since these countries represent the largest trading block in the world it is a great opportunity for Sri Lanka said Chairman Sri Lanka Shippers Council Randoph Perera.

This is the first international event to be held after peace dawned in the country and ASC has honoured Sri Lanka in the best possible manner by consenting to have the AGM in the country.

Speaking of future plans he said that they will try to convince the council of the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) to host their AGM in Sri Lanka.

This year the GSF will be held in London.

He said at present Sri Lanka only taps the container market while the bunker market and bulk market has never been tapped.

He was confident that Sri Lanka will be able to tap the other two markets as well with the Hambantota port being completed which will help Sri Lanka to reach the hub status.

The Asian Shippers' Council (ASC) was formed on September 13, 2004, integrating shippers' councils in all of Asia into a single entity, and is a significant milestone to the shippers' councils' community in Asia.

Shippers' Councils' in the world: America, Europe and Asia have been exploring the concept of integrating shippers' across the globe. As we believe and recognise the benefit of joining forces and working together to advance shippers' interest, ASC will serve as the link to the Global Shippers' Movement.

The ASC covers 5 geographical regions: i.e. China Area, Indian Sub-Continent, North East Asia, Oceania and South East Asia. it consists of 20 shippers' councils from 16 countries in the Asian region, being those from China, Hong Kong, Mcau, Taiwan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Korea, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Gunea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and affiliate shippers' councils in Africa.

The ASC is led by a Chairman and supported by a Permanent Secretariat based in Singapore.

A convenor from each of thee regions is represented the Council roundtable. They deliberate on matters involving shipping and transportation, undertake to formulate policies and work programs necessary to achieve the objectives of the Council, which are to recognise and unify Asian Shippers' interests in the expansion of trade and economic growth in Asia.

Traditionally after the ASC annual meeting the Global Shippers' Forum is held where EU and the US meet with the ASC members.