Singapore: Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have concluded a Joint Technical Arrangement (JTA) with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to institutionalise an IMO Trust Fund that supports co-operation among stakeholders towards enhancing safety and marine environment protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
The Fund benefits from an initial contribution of US$1million from Greece and marks yet another step forward in operationalising UNCLOS provision for international co-operation in the maintenance of straits used for international navigation since the establishment of the historic Co-operative Mechanism in 2007. The JTA was signed during the opening of 2nd Co-operative Forum hosted by Singapore.
Singapore's Transport Minister Raymond Lim said "the key feature of the Co-operation Forum is to provide a platform where the littoral states, as well as key users of the Straits can meet, exchange views, and explore collaborations. I am told an increasing number of user States are requesting to make presentations at this Forum. I find this readiness to share best-practices and the cross-fertilisation of ideas encouraging."
To date, the Aids to Navigation Fund (or ANF) has received a total of some US$7.3 million, in both pledged and actual contributions. Its list of contributors is increasing, and includes Japan, the Nippon Foundation, the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East Navigation Service and the Malacca Strait Council. The Japanese Shipowners' Association and the Republic of Korea have also indicated their intention to contribute. [13/10/09]
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