GoingToMeet

The symposium supports the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) in developing a coherent federal outreach and coordination effort. The U.S. sea services expressed the need to expand their relationships with industry in their joint strategy document, A Cooperative Strategy for a 21st Century Seapower. As government agencies have increasingly realized the benefits to be gained by partnering with the maritime industry however, there has been a flurry of "commercial outreach" and a deluge of information requests that are overwhelming industry and rapidly eroding its eagerness and ability to respond. The maritime community, both directly and through its various associations, has expressed frustration and confusion over the seemingly uncoordinated government efforts in support of maritime security and the resulting demands being placed on maritime trade.

GMISS was undertaken as an effort to harness this government energy for engagement and establish a means to coordinate a more cohesive dialogue between government and maritime industry representatives.

The long range (multi-year) objectives of the GMISS include:

    * Coordinate the U.S. government's maritime commercial outreach
    * Implement industry/government working groups to tackle key issues
    * Highlight and learn from the most productive relationships
    * Promote regional involvement
    * Engage a more diverse range of stakeholders