50 Countries To Attend WCRC Conference In Manado

Manado, North Sulawesi, Oct 17 (Antara) - Delegations from around 50 countries will take part in the World Coral Reef Conference (WCRC) to be held in Manado, North Sulawesi Province, in May 2014. "Initial preparations have already been made such as coordination with related ministries such as the maritime and fishery ministry and the office of the chief minister for people`s welfare," Head of the provincial Maritime and Fishery Service Ronald Sorongan said here on Wednesday. Ronald said WCRC is a summit meeting of countries having coral reefs in the world to discuss the use of coral reefs for human life and ways of preserving them. "The participants are expected to be those taking part in the world maritime conference also held in this city several years ago," he said. Minister and high ranking officials of 50 countries are expected to attend the conference, he added. The WCRC is part of the fifth year celebration of the world maritime conference and Coral Triangle Initiative, he said. The office of the coordinating minister for public welfare as the organizer of the conference has facilitated coordinating meeting on committee technical readiness, he said. He said the coordinating meeting was held on Wednesday attended by officials from the maritime and fishery ministry, the foreign ministry, the military and police.