BUTARITARI, Kiribati’s northern most island, hosted the 12th annual general meeting of the Central Pacific Shipping Commission (CPSC) for the first time.
Members from CPSC countries arrived on Butaritari on four chartered flights from Tarawa. CPSC Chair and Butaritari MP Alexander Teabo opened the ceremony at the Butaritari Island Council compound.
CPSC was established in 2010 to regulate and improve international commercial shipping services, mainly for small island developing states in the Central Pacific, including Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, and Wallis and Futuna.
Kiribati’s Director for Marine, Ruoikabuti Tion, told the BPA that the commission was established mainly to address shortages in these countries, which face challenges importing goods due to limited purchasing power.
“Cargo shortages in these countries were a major issue in those days because they have little power to import,” said Ruoikabuti.
Transport ministers from five member countries created this commission because they faced similar problems.
Shipping companies are now seeking to serve CPSC member countries, which are expected to provide and maintain balanced route coverage, plus services to both profitable and less profitable routes and small ports.
The commission’s establishment and the member countries’ continued performance have helped address the shortage of cargo in Kiribati.
“We are happy that the shortage of cargo in Kiribati is no longer a problem, and this is the result of the hard work and dedication of transport ministers from these countries through the establishment of the CPSC,” said Ruoikabuti.
The 12th AGM offers member countries a chance to keep working together to strengthen shipping services and improve reliable cargo supplies throughout the Pacific.
Shipping companies currently serving under CPSC members include SWIRE, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), KYOWA Shipping Company Ltd, Neptune Pacific Direct Line (NPDL), and Matson.