Transportation, particularly shipping and maritime sectors, has remained a major tool for economic development in the promotion of economic cooperation in D-8 countries. With this fact in mind, the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) organized the 3rd Expert Working Group Meeting on Shipping on 11-12 March 2014 in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting took theme “Harnessing Shipping Potentials for Economic Empowerment of the D-8 Member Countries”.

At the opening Session, Senator Idris Audu Umar (Honorable Minister of Transport of Nigeria), Dr. Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi (D-8 Secretary General), and Ambassador Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi (Honorable Permanent Secretary and D-8 Commissioner OF Nigeria) delivered statements. In their statements, they emphasized, among others, the cornerstone of shipping cooperation to effectively promote trade & investment, and also stimulate the economic growth in D-8 Countries.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of the decisions adopted at the 1st and 2nd Expert Working Group. In addition, the Meeting also discussed some substantive issues under shipping and maritime services, among others, such as ship-building and repairs, human capacity building (i.e. training for cadet), Public Private Partnership in shipping projects and infrastructure, maritime capacities, as well as stakeholders networking. It was worth to mention that the Meeting also encouraged Member Countries to enter into mutual agreements (i.e. Memorandum of Understanding between shipping stakeholders in D-8 Countries) and joint venture cooperation to develop the shipping and maritime services. 

Photos of this event can be viewed from the below link:

[www.flickr.com/photos/developing8/sets/72157642237998935/]