ASEAN shipowners’ associations remain cautiously optimistic

MANILA, Philippines – The Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Associations (FASA) remains cautiously optimistic on the shipping industry despite its recovery in 2010.

In its recent 36th annual general meeting held in Jakarta, FASA chairman Johnson Sutjipto said: “The shipping markets, as all of us are aware, are notoriously volatile and cyclical. We may be hopeful that the shipping industry would remain good but there are already some threatening signs on the horizon.”

“We must continue to honour the threat of new tonnages coming into the market in the years ahead,” he said.

Sutjipto urged FASA members to work together. “As we now live in a globalized world, we must continue to work together to project our Asian interests and image in the shipping world at large, both at the regional and international levels.”

He stressed that the expansion of international shipping will bring about more trade between countries and which in turn will contribute to their economic prosperity.

“There are ample benefits to reap from international shipping. Exercising rigid control or over-regulating the industry will only stifle its growth,” said Sutjipto.

Freddy Numberi, Minister for Transport of Indonesia, spoke on the master plan on ASEAN connectivity adopted by the ASEAN leaders during a summit in Hanoi recently.

He welcomed the private sector organizations such as FASA to establish a strong working relationship and dialogue with all the ASEAN governments to foster the rapid growth of the shipping industry in the ASEAN.

“Without support from the private sector to actively collaborate with the public sector, it would not be possible to achieve the objectives of having an ASEAN common shipping policy and an ASEAN single shipping market,” said Numberi. –EDU LOPEZ, Manila BUlletin