Mr. Saksayam Chidchob, Minister of Transport Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization paid a courtesy call on the occasion of his first official visit to Thailand ready to create hands To drive Thailand to be a leader in sustainable water transportation among developing countries in the ASEAN region.
Mr. Saksayam Chidchob, Minister of Transport, gave H.E. Mr. Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (International Maritime Organization: IMO) paid a courtesy call on the occasion of their first official visit to Thailand. There were Mr. Chayatham Phromsorn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Mr. Wirat Pimpanit, Advisor to the Minister of Transport, Mr. Kriangkrai Chaisiriwongsuk, Director of the Port Authority of Thailand, Mr. Somchai Sumanuskhajornkul, Deputy Director General of the Marine Department. and the Foreign Affairs Division
Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport. welcome On Monday, September 12, 2022, at the Ministry of Transport meeting room Mr. Saksayam Chidchob said he was delighted and honored to have the opportunity to welcome the Secretary-General of the IMO, a leading global organization that plays an important role in setting international regulations and standards. To ensure safety and environmental protection in international maritime transportation. Support and help countries to develop jobs in maritime transport to be accepted around the world. He also thanked the IMO for supporting and assisting Thailand in the past in the implementation of various conventions and instruments. Including providing technical assistance to the IMO, Thailand, as a member of the IMO Council, has sent representatives to work at the IMO.
As an assistant diplomat for maritime affairs for the first time since 2018, the coordination between Thailand and the IMO has been very smooth. IMO assessment in 2023, which will build confidence in Thailand's standards for safety and protection of the marine environment. which will be beneficial to the development of Thailand's maritime transport industry.
In addition, the Minister of Transport also reassured the IMO of the actions taken by Thailand to support Thailand's water transport. operate with efficiency, safety, standards and environmental friendliness In the past, the Ministry of Transport has established Maritime Safety and Traffic Control Operation Center, Marine Department to oversee the safety of water transportation according to international standards. and also has a policy to push for the use of clean energy for transportation of passenger boats on the Chao Phraya River Public buses and also have the idea to study the use of clean energy in intercity rail transportation. There are also guidelines to implement regulations on carbon credit in the future as well.
The IMO secretary-general was impressed with Thailand's commitment to action that is ready to foster the development of a water transport supply chain that meets the needs of the business sector. Along with implementing safety and sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation. We are also appreciative that the Ministry of Transport of Thailand is ready to establish a working group with the IMO and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to drive forward the policy of transport. Continue to develop sustainable water transport. And it is very desirable to see Thailand as a leader in sustainable transport development among developing countries in the ASEAN region. September 20, 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of the relationship between Thailand and the IMO. Thailand has become a member of the IMO, which will be a good opportunity to organize activities to commemorate and promote closer relations between each other.
