WMU Maritime Regional Conference in the Philippines

WMU President Max Mejia, Attorney Jabeth Dacanay, President of WMUPAA, WMU fellows from around the world. Good morning. I had wished to be at this conference to meet and talk directly with all of you actively engaged in the maritime and ocean sectors, but I must apologize that I can only be with you through this video as I am currently attending the WHO General Assembly in my capacity as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.

Already from more than forty years ago, The Nippon Foundation predicted that the oceans indispensable for the survival of humankind would be facing a crisis that we are confronting today. As we recognized the urgency to develop human resources capable of addressing the oncoming crisis, we started to train highly qualified specialists, such as WMU fellows, in the maritime and ocean sectors. We have come a long way, and as of today, we have more than one thousand six hundred fellows from one hundred and fifty countries, who are today actively contributing across the world.

Particularly now that under the leadership of President Mejia who is from the Philippines and himself a graduate of WMU, and the diligent hard-working students and the establishment of the doctoral program, WMU has come to be recognized as one of the leading universities of the world. And further, in twenty-eighteen, WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute was inaugurated as integral part of WMU, strengthening maritime and ocean education, research, and capacity-building. I ask you please, take pride in the splendid university WMU is becoming and continue to address the challenges facing the oceans.

However, considering the vastness of the oceans and the diversity of issues, we can no longer solve the complexity of the current intertwined global maritime and ocean challenges with just a single field of research or expertise and know-how. As such, I truly　recognize the significance of gatherings such as this regional conference. They are where fellows with diverse experiences, come together to share research results and expertise from beyond organizations, national boundaries, and sectors. I sincerely hope that this conference will produce not only concrete results, but also serve as an opportunity to further strengthen collaboration among all the fellows for the future of the “common heritage of humanity”. Thank you very much.