Japan, Norway highlight green opportunities in maritime

In a message to the opening ceremony of Sea Japan 2014 in Tokyo on Wednesday, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said he had high hopes that the marine resource management market would become a new growth area.

Other Japanese government officials underscored the view that the green revolution in shipping provided business opportunities.

A Vice Minister from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), said: “Environmental concerns have to be developed into a source of growth.”

This was echoed by MLIT director general, maritime bureau Toshiya Morishige who said, “Green growth from now on is essential.”

He noted that new regulations such as the introduction of double-hulled tankers at the start of the 1990s could become business opportunities. “The new EEDI index is another example,” he said.

Norwegian State Secretary for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Dilek Hayan stressed the role governments had to play.  “The winners of the green revolution will surely be the winners of the 21^st century global economy. From a government perspective policies and regulations which enhance growth and innovation are perhaps the most important in fostering the winners in the green revolution in the maritime sector.”

She added that the future would see a lot of global cooperation on green technology for the maritime sector. Harald Solberg, director of industrial policy and communication for the Norwegian Shipowners' Association noted the complimentary nature of key segments in both Norwegian and Japanese shipping formed the basis for a number of partnerships.