Mr.Keiji Tomoda – Vice President of JSA, Chairman of Canals Sub-Committee of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and Chairman of Shipping Policy Committee of the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA)
commenting on his participation as a keynote speaker in the Suez Canal Authority’s event to discuss “Suez Canal Supporting Global Trade against Different Challenges” on Sunday, January 16th, at Expo 2020 Dubai

1) The Importance of participating in this event

We, the international shipping industry, have a mission to offer continuous services all over the world as an infrastructure that underpins global logistics, even in the situation with the unprecedented disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to accomplish the mission, through the discussions at this forum held at the site of Dubai Expo, which attracts worldwide attention, it is highly critical to reaffirm the importance of stable management of the Suez Canal, which connects the world’s major sea-trade routes. It is, therefore, my great honour to attend this event, representing Japanese shipping lines, and to exchange views with the distinguished participants concerning the significant role of the Canal and our expectation for the Canal, which supports the ever-growing world seaborne trade and environmental initiatives by shipping lines.

2) The importance of the Suez Canal for global trade and what it represents for them

As you know, the Suez Canal connects the East and the West as a major artery of international trade. It is a well-known fact that around 10% of global sea-borne trade passes through the Suez Canal.

As a maritime service provider which is a part of the global logistics chain, I believe that the Suez Canal and the maritime industry are in the same boat. I deeply appreciate that the Suez Canal, which can accommodate very large merchant ships including 24,000TEU-Class container vessels, is still working on an expansion project to meet the growing transit demand and to keep its role as an indispensable infrastructure. I strongly hope that the Canal will maintain its comparative advantage in several sea routes between Asia and Europe, or South East Asia and the Americas in terms of safety, security, and economics.

For Japan, the Suez Canal is a critical point that connects Europe and Japan. And stabilization and the healthy development of the Suez Canal, Canal Zone, and the country of Egypt are also important for the country of Japan.

3) The Cooperation with the Suez Canal Authority

To secure an environment of safe, stable, and efficient transit of the Suez Canal brings benefit to both the Canal Authority and its users, and mutual cooperation is necessary to attain it.

As Chairman of the ICS* Canals Sub-committee, when we can establish regular direct dialogues between the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) and the industry, I am determined to fulfill my role to enhance safety measures, to improve transit efficiency, and so on, representing the international shipping industry and the Japanese Shipowners’ Association.

With reference to the environmental issues which are some of the foremost tasks for the international maritime industry, I am willing to discuss, through such dialogues, future safety measures and facilities corresponding to the use of alternative fuels such as LNG, hydrogen, and ammonia. I have recently learned that the SCA intends to provide incentives for environmentally-friendly ships. I greatly appreciate the SCA’s attitude to incentives advanced technology and our industry looks forward to cooperating with the SCA on this aspect.

It is noteworthy that The Suez Canal Authority is organizing a major event entitled “The Suez Canal and Challenges in World Trade” in the Egyptian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, on Sunday, January 16th, at 10:30 am GST.

H.E. Mrs. Nevin Gamea, the Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry, H.E. Adm. Ossama Rabiee, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), and H.E. Eng. Yehia Zaki, Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone is a keynote speaker in the first session.

This session aims at shedding the light on the vigorous efforts of pivotal Egyptian economic ministries and authorities to showcase Egypt’s vision to promote World Trade.

The second session is an open discussion with a number of prominent figures in the maritime shipping sector at regional and global levels, including Mr. Guy Platten – Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Ms. Henriette Hallberg Thygesen – CEO of Fleet & Strategic Brands and Executive Vice President and member of the Executive Board, A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S, Mr.Keiji Tomoda – Vice President of the Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA), Chairman of the Canals Sub-Committee of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Chairman of the Shipping Policy Committee of the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA), and Eng. Yasser Nassr Zaghloul – Group CEO of the National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC). Moderating the session is Mr. Khaled Abu-bakr – the International lawyer and Media Figure, and Legal Advisor to the SCA.

The discussion will focus on four main points related to the major challenges facing the maritime transport industry at present, in addition to discussing modern environmental trends; like achieving sustainable development and facing the risks of climate change, as well as presenting different visions on how to keep up with the technological requirements associated with the development of the industry in light of the new system of the Internet of things and more.

The Suez Canal event aims to strengthen the bonds of cooperation with its partners in success, listen to the clients’ points of view and their evaluation of the performance and policies of the Suez Canal Authority in promoting world trade, as well as explaining the mechanisms of operation and development in the Suez Canal and reviewing the future vision during the coming period.

That is in addition to discussing the opportunities offered by the promising development projects in the Suez Canal area to support supply chains and the world trade movement in an effective and sustainable manner