Commonwealth Secretariat pledges support to CIMC

The Commonwealth Secretariat where President Maithripala Sirisena is the current chair has extended its support to the Colombo International Maritime Conference (CIMC) which will be inaugurated at the Galadari Hotel on September 24 - World Maritime Day, as the government has declared a Maritime Week from September 21-27 for the first time.

Minister of Ports and Shipping, Arjuna Ranatunga extended the invitation to the Commonwealth to be a part of the CIMC. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is due to inaugurate CIMC 2015.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states. It is home to 2.2 billion citizens, of which over 60% are under 30. The Commonwealth includes some of the world's largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries, spanning five regions. Thirty-one of its members are small states, many of them island nations.

The Commonwealth Secretariat provides guidance on policy-making, technical assistance and advisory services to Commonwealth member countries. It supports governments to help achieve sustainable, inclusive and equitable development. The Commonwealth promotes democracy, rule of law, human rights, good governance and social and economic development. It is a voice for small States and a champion for youth empowerment.

Secretary General of the Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma has also pledged support to the Colombo International Maritime Conference with technical assistance and will send speakers from London to address the gathering, including a presentation on the Caribbean experience, in Jamaica of setting up of a maritime hub.

Nearly 30 international speakers from leading shipping companies, UNCTAD, Global Shippers Forum. Port experts, Federal maritime commission of USA, Journal of commerce, Drewry Shipping and China Merchant Holdings will be present.