THE quarter century of search by the Malaysian maritime industry for a national policy may soon be over if the recent initiatives by the Malaysian Industry-Government Group For High Technology (Might) succeeds.

 
The industry can look forward to a comprehensive blue-print being drawn up with specific national targets and objectives to enhance its contributions to the economy.

 
Following the successes achieved by Might in articulating policy directions for the development of industries such as the aerospace, pharmaceuticals and herbal products and automotive sectors, the national body under the Prime Minister's Department, has now taken the initiative for the maritime industry.

 
A Might Interest Group in the Maritime Industry has been set up to carry out prospecting activities that will lead to the formulation of a national strategy for the maritime industry.

 
In keeping with its approach to allow the private sector to lead the interest groups and to ensure a confluence of ideas, Might has appointed Tan Sri Halim Mohammad, the executive chairman of Halim Mazmin Bhd, as the chairman of the Might Interest Group in Maritime Industry.

 
Halim, a shipping entrepreneur in Malaysia and a full-blooded mariner, has been involved with the development of the industry for nearly three decades.

 
He built Halim Mazmin Bhd, a main board-listed company on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, into one of the robust shipping companies in the region.

 
Recently, Halim chaired a brain-storming session on the maritime industry.

 
A major objective of the one-day meeting was to find a consensus in drawing up the terms of reference for a blue-print on the development of the maritime industry.

 
Following the day-long session the committee was in consensus on the scope of the terms of reference for an evaluation of the total value chain and issues related to the development of the industry vis-a-vis its competitiveness.

 
It also noted the need to identify the technology that needs to be developed and the appropriate policy direction for the future needs of the maritime industry.

 
Attention was also given by the committee on the need to provide strategic direction to the development of the human resource capability of the industry.

 
The importance of the task that has been assigned to the Might Interest Group in the Maritime Industry cannot be understated, especially in the wake of various attempts, especially by the Ministry of Transport in the past failed to evolve a policy framework for the development of the Malaysian maritime industry.

 
The importance of developing the maritime sector is also underscored by the fact that the services sector is expected to fuel the growth of the economy.

 
The focus on the development of the maritime sector will also help stem in the outflow of payment for transportation services which continues to be a source of concern.

 
According to the latest statistics revealed by Bank Negara Malaysia, the deficit is expected to widen further to RM12.5 billion on an increased total payment of RM24 billion.

 
This compares with RM11.4 billion deficit recorded in 2001 on the total payment of RM22.9 billion.

 
About 90 per cent of the country's trade is seaborne, and it is estimated that about 85 per cent of this is carried by foreign ships calling at local ports.