Competitive pricing and efficient services, including a speedy turnaround time, is expected to drive Malaysian ports to achieve a seven per cent growth in cargo handling in 2011, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.
He said Malaysian ports handled 18.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last year, up 14.8 per cent, compared to 16.04 million in 2009.
"We expect further growth for this year and ahead. We are projecting a seven per cent growth in terms of TEUs and it is a conservative figure," he told reporters after opening the National Maritime Conference here Tuesday.
Kong also stressed the importance of human capital development in order to become an excellent international shipping provider.
Earlier in his keynote address, he said that Malaysia should have a highly trained, skilled, competent and motivated workforce to drive the nation towards 2020 and beyond.
"Our aim is to encourage as many Malaysians as possible to pursue a maritime career. For this to happen, the industry must demonstrate, that seafaring is indeed a rewarding profession.
"As the most relevant stakeholder, shipowners must ensure, this message is clearly delivered," he said.
According to Kong, the Malaysian maritime fleet now has more than 4,700 merchant ships and slightly more than 1,000 of these, trade internationally.
In terms of tonnage, about 70 per cent of Malaysia's shipping fleet, trade internationally, he said.
At present, he said, there are about 20,000 Malaysian seafarers although many of them service the domestic trade.
"At the same time, our reliance on foreign seafarers continues and this year alone, we have are more than 9,500 serving on board our ships," he highlighted.
On the Manila amendments to the Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) convention and code, Kong said it is a very important convention, that regulates the standards of training and certification of seafarers.
He said Malaysia has been a party to the STCW Convention since 1992, and its last major revision in 1995, was fully enforced in 2002.
He said Malaysian ports handled 18.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last year, up 14.8 per cent, compared to 16.04 million in 2009.
"We expect further growth for this year and ahead. We are projecting a seven per cent growth in terms of TEUs and it is a conservative figure," he told reporters after opening the National Maritime Conference here Tuesday.
Kong also stressed the importance of human capital development in order to become an excellent international shipping provider.
Earlier in his keynote address, he said that Malaysia should have a highly trained, skilled, competent and motivated workforce to drive the nation towards 2020 and beyond.
"Our aim is to encourage as many Malaysians as possible to pursue a maritime career. For this to happen, the industry must demonstrate, that seafaring is indeed a rewarding profession.
"As the most relevant stakeholder, shipowners must ensure, this message is clearly delivered," he said.
According to Kong, the Malaysian maritime fleet now has more than 4,700 merchant ships and slightly more than 1,000 of these, trade internationally.
In terms of tonnage, about 70 per cent of Malaysia's shipping fleet, trade internationally, he said.
At present, he said, there are about 20,000 Malaysian seafarers although many of them service the domestic trade.
"At the same time, our reliance on foreign seafarers continues and this year alone, we have are more than 9,500 serving on board our ships," he highlighted.
On the Manila amendments to the Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) convention and code, Kong said it is a very important convention, that regulates the standards of training and certification of seafarers.
He said Malaysia has been a party to the STCW Convention since 1992, and its last major revision in 1995, was fully enforced in 2002.