Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has appreciated the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) for its admirable initiatives amid the trying times of pandemic.

He urged for prioritising capacity development of the member states and coming up with specially tailored capacity-building programmes based on the realities of this region.

The Senior Secretary of Bangladesh delivered the concluding remarks on behalf of the host country on the final day of the three-day 13th Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) on Thursday.

He conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to all the participants for their wholehearted cooperation in arranging this successful session.

The Foreign Secretary thanked the IOC WESTPAC for taking programmes and activities in recent times.

Ambassador Masud appreciated the IOC WESTPAC for their completed studies and reiterated the immense importance of utilising this scientific knowledge for the sustainable uses of oceanic resources.

He hoped that all the suggestions, advice, and directives generated throughout the 3-day Session will be well-reflected in all the future undertakings of the IOC WESTPAC.

Ambassador Masud underscored the need for creating a database containing detailed information on ocean experts and their researches from different regions; collaborating with different international, national, and regional research organisations; generating a network among different universities; building liaison with private companies for the commercialisation of the research outcomes; constructing a platform for encouraging private investment in research and development and most importantly build the overall capacity of this region.

The Foreign Secretary congratulated the newly-elected Co-Chairs (Kentaro Ando from Japan and Professor Dr. Fangli QIAO from China) and the newly-elected Vice-Chair (Professor Dato’ Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai from Malaysia) and wished them for a credible continued engagement and a successful tenure.

The three-day session concluded with the participation of over a hundred representatives.