As part of measures to foster port modernisation, capacity building and promote greener shipping among member countries, the Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu has opened talks with the Chief Executive of Singaporean Maritime and Ports Authority, Mr. Ang Wee Keong.
At a recently held bilateral meeting in Singapore, Adalikwu called for technical collaboration with Singaporean authorities, known for its efficient and modernised port system while seeking that such standards be replicated in MOWCA member countries.
Specifically, the MOWCA SG called for closer working ties and requested expertise of the Singaporean authorities in areas of human capital development, infrastructural upgrade and maintenance and cargo handling.
Dr. Adalikwu who also spoke on the importance of a maritime single window and digitalisation of port processes, harped on the need for harmonisation and single document submission for seamless end to end processing of import and export procedures in ports.
Speaking on environment friendly shipping, specifically addressing Green House Gas (GHG), Dr. Adalikwu told Keong that MOWCA fully aligns with the International Maritime Organisation policy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping by or around 2050.
He added that MOWCA is setting target timelines as advisory to member states to gravitate towards the target like planning to reduce emissions by at least 20 per cent before 2030.
According to the MOWCA SG, a technical collaboration with Singaporean Maritime and Ports Authority would be helpful in achieving compliance with the IMO target by MOWCA states.
Adalikwu also stated that a modernised port system, delivering efficient services holds great contribution to the development and sustenance of the blue economy at the countries and sub regional levels.
Keong thanked Adalikwu for the visit and expressed the Singaporean government’s willingness to collaborate with MOWCA on all areas requested. He also stated his country’s optimism for rapid maritime development of partnering MOWCA countries.
Both parties agreed to meet in London later this year for a formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would define the modalities of the technical collaboration. Adalikwu equally pledged support of MOWCA’s member states towards Singapore’s IMO Council seat in the upcoming elections.
