(NEWS) The “Second Regional Conference for the Americas” concludes in Veracruz, Mexico

October

2019

The “Second Regional Conference for the Americas” concludes in Veracruz, Mexico

The Secretary of the Navy of Mexico and the President of the World Maritime University (WMU) closed the "Second Regional Conference for the Americas", which was held from 30 September to 2 October at the Heroic Naval Military School, in Antón Lizardo, Veracruz. The Conference was jointly organized by WMU and the Ports and Maritime Affairs Captaincy Unit (UNICAPAM) with the theme “Maritime Transport and Ocean Policies: Regional Perspectives for the Americas”.

The Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Eduardo Redondo Arámburo, opened the Conference on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy, Admiral José Rafael Ojeda Durán. The keynote speech and welcoming words were delivered by Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of the World Maritime University.

The speakers, participants and the general public discussed the opportunities and challenges for the development and implementation of policies oriented towards maritime transport and the oceans in the region. Issues discussed of international relevance included: Maritime governance and national maritime transport policies; Transportation, ports and terminals; Education and training; Gender equality; Oceanic policies and climate change governance; Maritime boundaries and areas beyond national jurisdiction; and a WMU alumni action plan. Distinguished speakers from Government institutions, the private sector and academia, including the following: Jeffrey G. Lantz (Director, Commercial Regulations and Standards, US Coast Guard), Claudia Kay Grant (Deputy-Director General, Maritime Administration, Jamaica), Iván Valenzuela Bosne, (Maritime Administration, Chile), Alfonso Ascencio-Herrera, Legal Counsel, (International Seabed Authority), Captain Anuj Chopra, Vice President, Americas, (Right Ship Pty. Ltd); Dr. Liliana Rodríguez Cortés (International Ocean Institute); Dr. Mariamalia Rodríguez Chávez, Coordinator of the Alliance for Altamar (Latin America), and Dr. Takeshi Nakasawa, Executive Director (International Association of Maritime Universities).

Admiral Redondo Arámburo, on behalf of the Mexican authorities, highlighted the excellent work of the World Maritime University under the leadership of Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry and thanked her “(...) in a special way for the great effort made to ensure that the Conference would be a success and which was made possible with the excellent cooperation between the Secretary of the Navy and WMU that you worthily represent; receive our recognition for this reason, hoping that the objectives have been met and our cooperation further consolidated.”

In this Second Regional Conference the true spirit of cooperation that distinguishes the WMU was realized, as well as the contribution of the countries of the continent who again expressed their commitment to meet the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, and in particular the goals of: Quality Education, Gender Equality and Life below Water.

Together the Ministry of the Navy, as the National Maritime Authority, in coordination with the World Maritime University, have strengthened their ties with maritime and ocean training institutions, graduates of the educational institutions of the International Maritime Organization as well as with members of the maritime education and business sectors, in order to contribute to the fulfilment of the commitments made in the UN 2030 Agenda, and guarantee a Mexico with clean, safe and efficient ports and seas.

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