YUICHI Sonoda (pic) has been appointed as the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA) secretary-general effective May 1.
In a statement today, ASA said this is a role Sonoda is thoroughly familiar with, as he had served as ASA secretary-general from 2010 to 2014 and was extremely instrumental in numerous initiatives and conferences.
“Sonoda has been involved in ASA since its inception in 1992 and was appointed as secretary of the Shipping Economics Review Committee (SERC), one of the five Standing Committees of ASF, in 1996.
“He had also served as the vice-chairman of the Maritime Transport Committee of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),” it said.
ASA said upon graduation with a law degree from Keio University in Tokyo in 1976, Sonoda joined the Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA) and was mainly involved in various international shipping policy issues.
“During his tenure at JSA, he was also appointed to JSA’s London branch office for a period of five years,” it said.
ASA said Sonoda is unable to make the trip to Singapore for the time being and has decided to name him as secretary-general designate until he lands in Singapore with the proper documentary filings to the Registrar of Societies in Singapore.
“Parallel and ongoing preparations are being made between JSA and ASA to ease Yuichi Sonoda into the transition,” it added. — April 28, 2020, Bernama
