Singapore will be playing host to the delegates of the 28th ASEAN Ports Association (APA) Annual Meeting from 21 to 23 October 2002, held at the Marina Mandarin Hotel. The Opening Ceremony would be officiated by Mr Peter Ong, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport. Mr Ong would also be delivering the Opening Address. Held for the second time in Singapore, some 60 senior officials from the member countries' port authorities and terminal operators would be gathering at this meeting.The Singapore delegation would be led by Capt Khong Shen Ping, Director for Port, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

During the three-day meeting, several major issues would be discussed. These include the Manual for the Best Practice on Port Operations Standards, Port Safety and Security and Logistics, as well as the schemes for the training and attachment of port personnel among ASEAN ports.

The APA is a regional association with members comprising port authorities and terminal operators from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The Association's objectives are as follows:

• To provide the ASEAN ports and harbour organisations a vehicle for regional co-operation in port and harbour development, operations and management; and

• To promote and protect the interest of member ports.

The APA annual meetings serve as the policy-making body of APA, reviewing the progress of the Association's works and projects, deciding on vital issues on hand, and addressing other areas of concerns such as approving the proposed APA Budget, examining and adopting the reports of the various Technical and Working Committee meetings held prior to the annual APA meetings.

The MPA is committed to providing the ASEAN ports and harbour organisations a platform for regional co-operation in port and harbour development.

End of Release.