On behalf of the Indonesian National Shipowners' Association (INSA), I would like to express our gratitude and deepest appreciation to the Australian Shipowners Association for organizing the 14th Asian Shipowners Forum (ASF) in Australia from 9-11 May 2005.

Since its inauguration in 1992, the ASF has grown from strength to strength with its members growing their tonnage considerably and thus sharing a larger piece of the global shipping pie. Today, the ASF is a very dominant body representing Asian shipowners in the global maritime industry, the umbilical cord of international commerce. This would have been unthinkable without the yeoman service rendered by the ASF through its five Standing Committees over the last decade or so.

We at INSA are very confident that the ASF will continue to render its meritorious service to the Asian shipping community and safeguard its aspirations to bring us further accolades in the years to come, and may its endeavours bring about a positive effect to the shipping community at large.

I take this opportunity to wish all delegates a very fruitful 14th ASF.