Facilitation Committee (FAL 48) - Closing remarks

ADDRESS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE CLOSING OF THE FORTY-EIGHTH SESSION OF THE FACILITATION COMMITTEE (FAL 48), 8 to 12 April 2024

Delivered by IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez on Friday, 12 April 2024

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, 

As we come to the end of this very busy but instrumental forty-eighth session of the Facilitation Committee, allow we to express my gratitude for the fruitful discussions and many important accomplishments.

You have approved a new version of the Explanatory Manual to the FAL Convention. This guidance will help Member States to implement this Conventionin a more effective manner.

I would also like to mention the finalization of a new version of the IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business, including new data sets. 

In this regard, I would like to express my thanks to the modelling team and partner organizations as well as all of the participants of the EGDH and acknowledge the importance of their contributions to the IMO Compendium. 

You have also approved the Guidelines on Port Community Systems and adopted a resolution on revised Guidelines for the Prevention and Suppression of the Smuggling of Wildlife on Ships Engaged in International Maritime Traffic.

All these achievements would not have been possible without active cooperation from all of you, the delegates, and I am grateful for your continued collaboration and unstinting support for the work of the Organization.

In congratulating you all for your contributions to the success of this session, I would like to thank in particular your Chair, Mr. Watchara Chiemanukulkit of Thailand, despite some quite challenging issues you were confronted with during this session, some expected and some unexpected, you have demonstrated excellent leadership and sense of humour in steering the affairs of the Committee with a steady hand to great success.

I would also like to thank your Vice-Chair, Mr. Mohamed Al Kaabi, of UAE, for his support throughout this session, chairing also a working group during this session. I am sure the Chair and the Vice-Chair will continue to guide the Committee on a fruitful path.

My thanks also go to the Chairs of the working groups which convened during this session, in particular Mr. Renz of Sweden and Mr. Joret of France, who ensured the successful outcome of their respective working groups. 

As always, this is also an opportune moment to thank those delegates and experts who are leaving us and for whom this is the last session of the Committee. However, this is not farewell and we look forward to seeing them again.

I would also like to take this opportunity to appreciate the work of the staff in the Maritime Safety Division and acknowledge their tremendous efforts and dedication, as well as to all staff in the Conference Division, including the Meeting Services, Translation and Document Sections, the Department of Information Technology and the Administrative Division. 

All of them, together with many officers from other Divisions, work tirelessly to serve your meetings. 

I also wish to say a special thank you to the interpreters, whose skills in facilitating our communication are vital to our work. 

I wish you all a restful weekend and safe journey home.

Thank you.

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