The PROPELLER CLUB

10Excerpts from a messageby the Secretary Generalof IMO, mr Efthimios Mitropouloson the occasion of theWorld Maritime Day 2006Maritime activity has a key role to play in theeradication of extreme poverty and hunger. Italready provides an important source of incomeand employment for many developing countries,through such activities as the registration ofships, the supply of sea-going manpower andship recycling, as well as shipowning andoperating, shipbuilding and repair and portservices, among others. But, seen in a widercontext, shipping has an even more importantrole to play. Sea transport remains by far themost cost effective way to move goods and rawmaterials en masse around the world, and thevast majority of global trade is carried in ships.The part played by the maritime sector as anenabler of global trade and thereby globalprosperity, as well as its direct, beneficial inputto many developing economies, has made andcontinues to make a substantial contributiontowards the goal of halving poverty by the year2015. Such a welcome development will lead, intime, to progress with other Millennium Goals,particularly those related to education and health.For shipping moves the world’s burgeoning trade,while international commerce promotesproduction, job creation and greater socioeconomicprosperity. And the combination of allthese has, undoubtedly, the potential to lift peoplefrom hunger and poverty and also eradicate lifethreateningdiseases.Overall, there is no doubt that the world is makingprogress towards achieving many of the MillenniumDeclaration of the General Assembly of the UnitedNations, although, as several Heads of State orGovernment disconcertingly acknowledged at the2005 World Summit, not currently at the desirablerate that would ensure the achievement of theGoals by 2015 deadline. Nevertheless, it was ofcrucial importance that so many Heads of Stateor Govervment took the opportunity of the Summitto reaffirm their faith in the United Nations and thevital importance of an effective multilateral systemin meeting the challenges and threats confrontingour world today.IMO and its Members are playing their part. Ourresponse to the MDGs, and to their strong reaffirmationat the 2005 World Summit, has beento emphasize, once again, the key strategic roleour technical co-operation activities play inbuilding capacity among the disadvantaged andempowering them to build a better andsustainable life for the future.If the Millennium Development Goals are to beachieved, we will all need vision, foresight,purpose and strength of will. It can be done; butit will not happen unless we all take up thechallenge and act together, pro-actively,positively, and with due sense of responsibilitytowards our planet and the children of ourchildren.Thank you.f