It is a great pleasure to attend such important meeting on behalf of SEAFDEC.
This is my second occasion to attend the NACA Provisional Governing Council. However, a good collaboration with NACA and SEAFDEC has been continued since the inception of NACA activities.
SEAFDEC has different departments in the region, namely, Training Department in Thailand, Marine Fisheries Research Departments in Singapore, and Aquaculture Department in the Philippines.
The Aquaculture Department of SEAFDEC, which is sited in Tigbauan, Iloilo, is conducting various research projects, training activities, and information activities to promote aquaculture in the Member Countries in the region.
This Department also plays an important role in conducting a senior aquaculturists' training course with NACA since 1981.
In December 1988, the SEAFDEC held its annual council meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and decided to further strengthen SEAFDEC activities to meet the changing requirements in the region. The Government of Malaysia also proposed to host a fourth Department, “Marine Fisheries Resources Research and Development,” in order to manage coastal fisheries resources and to develop off-shore resources.
SEAFDEC will cooperate more closely with NACA in the future as we have the same objective to promote aquaculture in the region for the betterment of fish farmers.
Finally, I wish Mr. Chen Foo Yan, who is my old friend, success in his ambitious objectives.
We will further discuss the means of collaboration in more detail when NACA is transformed into an independent intergovernmental organization.
