D-8 Organization has successfully concluded the 1st Meeting of D-8 Working Group on Shipping, which was organized by full support of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety (NIMASA) in Abuja, on November 9-10, 2010. The meeting was offered by the Nigerian Government, being mindful of the imperative of fast tracking cooperation in the maritime sector if the D-8 target of raising the Group’s share of global trade from 15-20% by 2018, and as well as to facilitate the realization of the theme of the 7th Summit-Enhancing Investment Cooperation Among D-8 Member Countries, last July in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting is also a follow up to the decisions reached at the Seminar on the Prospects of Shipping in D-8 Group held in Karachi, Pakistan in April, 2005.

The meeting, which was attended by full participation from all member countries, seek to focus on a set of important issues such as the exchange of experiences and best practices in the field of shipping and logistics; strengthening intra D-8 shipping activities and exploring cooperation opportunities among the member countries; identifying and monitoring the implementation of priorities in the field of shipping; identifying opportunities and challenges in D-8 for the shipping sector and enhancing shipping logistic services in D-8; encouraging public private partnership in the shipping and logistics field; enhancing cooperation in research and development activities for sustainable development of shipping in D-8 countries; and implementing capacity building programs for human resource development.

The meeting also elaborated the potential of shipping, including logistics and cargo, as one of the D-8 working groups.

Photos from this meeting can be viewed by clicking here.