Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians opened the first of a two-day event with a keynote address in which she underlined the important role that ports play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, which are at the core of WPSP. IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim referred to the platform that IMO is offering for more collaboration between shipowners, ports, maritime administrations and other stakeholders. WPSP Coordinator and IAPH Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven referred to the work that now lies ahead: ‘We need to chart the course of WPSP with concrete priorities for the years ahead and to ensure that port community actors worldwide engage in achieving the objectives we have set out today.” That process starts tomorrow with a series of interactive workshops on the main themes of the Program.
World Ports Sustainability Program started
More than 250 professionals from ports, shipping, government and society gathered at the Port of Antwerp today for the kick-off of the World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP).