The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) convened the 1st Selection Committee Meeting for the Recipient Member Country of M.V. SEAFDEC on 1 September 2026 via videoconference. The meeting was attended by SEAFDEC National Coordinators and representatives serving as members of the Selection Committee from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, as well as the SEAFDEC Secretary-General and senior officials from the SEAFDEC Secretariat and Training Department.
The meeting marked the commencement of the Selection Committee’s work following the endorsement of the Disposal Plan for M.V. SEAFDEC by the SEAFDEC Council in 2025 and the approval of the selection procedures at the 58th Meeting of the SEAFDEC Council. The Selection Committee, comprising the National Coordinators of SEAFDEC Member Countries, is responsible for overseeing and guiding the selection process for the Recipient Member Country.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Pitchaya Chainark, Chairperson of the Selection Committee and SEAFDEC National Coordinator for Thailand, provided an overview of the background to the disposal plan and emphasized the importance of ensuring that M.V. SEAFDEC continues to benefit a Member Country and contribute to fisheries development in the region. She stressed that the selection process should be carried out with fairness, transparency, diligence, and in the spirit of regional cooperation.
Ms. Sampan Panjarat, Secretary-General of SEAFDEC, welcomed the participants and expressed her appreciation for their active participation and cooperation. She highlighted the important responsibility entrusted to the Selection Committee by the SEAFDEC Council and emphasized the need to ensure a fair, transparent, and well-managed selection process.
During the meeting, the Committee discussed the Terms of Reference (TOR), evaluation criteria, selection procedures, indicative timeline, and next steps. These discussions helped establish a common understanding among the Committee members and provided a clear basis for proceeding with the subsequent stages of the selection process.
In the closing session, Mr. Suzuki Takaaki, representative of the Vice-Chairperson of the Selection Committee, expressed appreciation to the Chairperson, Selection Committee members, and  SEAFDEC for their valuable contributions. He noted that the meeting had provided a solid foundation for the Committee’s future work and reaffirmed the members’ commitment to continued cooperation throughout the selection process.
The Selection Committee will continue its work in accordance with the agreed procedures and timeline toward the selection of the Recipient Member Country of M.V. SEAFDEC.
