..::ISCOS - Opportunities::..

ISCOS member states share common shipping interest. The Export sector is dominated by commodities agricultural commodes whose prices on the world market have been declining over the years thus calling for a strong regional strategy to promote them. ISCOS has an opportunity to intervene in matter of freight rates and other pricing mechanisms as part of the regional strategy to promote the exports by cost reduction;

The weak or/and none existent shipper and commodity organizations calls for a strong regional organization which can create a favorable and conducive environment to promote shippers interests;

The region has recorded low maritime performance in recent times. Also, there is little local entrepreneur. This has created an opportunity for ISCOS to promote local participation in coastal and deep sea shipping;

The region needs data and information on shipping, port, and other areas of the maritime sector and ISCOS is in the best position to develop a regional maritime data bank;

While the Governments are vigorously pursuing liberalization policies aimed at strengthening the private sector as the engine for the development of trade and commerce, there is golden opportunity for ISCOS champion the move of accommodating the private sector in ISCOS' policy making machinery as well as private sector participation in various maritime sectors of the region;

ISCOS is aware of the UN-wide commitment to gender equity and development. ISCOS has an opportunity available within the region to spear head the integration of women in the maritime sector;

Regional organizations have been mentioning maritime transport in passing but ISCOS has the opportunity of being maritime agency for those countries in order to achieve high performance in this sector;

In this crucial period of change. ISCOS has the opportunity position its self to play a more pro-active role in NEPAD and in doing so , simultaneously developing an environment for implementation of agreed measures;

Is capable of giving priority to capacity-building through NEPAD in order to enhance the effectiveness of existing regional and national maritime structures and the establishment of new one for that purpose.