Regional Informational Workshop on Deep Seabed Resources, Blue Economy for ASEAN & BIMSTEC Countries held in Nay Pyi Taw

THE Regional Informational Workshop on Deep Seabed Resources and the Blue Economy for ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries was held at Park Royal Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

Myanmar is the first nation in ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries to host this workshop in cooperation with the International Seabed Authority, and it was supported by the Korea Maritime Institute. Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin and Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Mr Michael Lodge delivered the opening remarks at the ceremony. The main objectives of the workshop are to increase the knowledge amongst ASEAN and BIMSTEC members on the mandate and responsibilities of International Seabed Authority as well as the obligations of sponsoring States and contractors in undertaking activities in the Area; to understand the potential development opportunities arising to ASEAN and BIMSTEC members from increased participation in activities undertaken in the Area; and to enable conditions for capacity-building opportunities for ASEAN and BIMSTEC members.

On the first fay of the workshop, Daw Hla Myo Nwe, member of the Constitutional Tribunal of the Union, chaired session one titled ‘The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and 1994 Agreement’.

Mr Michael Lodge led session two titled ‘Other institutions operating or created under the framework of the Convention and South Asia and South East Asia’.

Dr Thura Oo, Rector of Monywa University, took a leading role for the session three titled ‘Increased regional international cooperation in support of the sustainable development of ASEAN and BIMSTEC members’ Blue Economy’.

The workshop was attended by the senior government officials from the concerned ministries, representatives from the ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries, private sector, scholars as well as experts and resource persons from the International Seabed Authority (ISA), commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) and Korea Maritime Institute (KMI).

The second day of the workshop will be held on 10th September.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanma