The maritime sector plays a vital role in Malaysia’s economic development, given the country's strategic location along the Strait of Malacca — one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and the resource rich South China Sea – a geopolitical potential flashpoint. This sector encompasses a wide range of activities including naval defence, shipping and logistics, port operations, shipbuilding and repair, marine engineering, fisheries, offshore oil and gas support, marine tourism, and maritime education and training. 

The challenges being faced in this sector are immense. Naval assets need to keep up with both technological and geo-political developments. Shipping, logistics and ports need reform and innovation just to remain competitive. Shipbuilding, repair and marine engineering need investments to fully realise the nation’s potential. The fisheries sector needs modernization for sustainable food security and for coastal fishermen to escape poverty. Depleting oilfields necessitates a decommissioning plan for dozens of offshore oil platforms. Our beautiful islands need tourism infrastructure which preserves and nurtures the marine environment. And human resources need to be developed to ensure that the nation and its citizens can meet these challenges successfully.

Meeting these challenges require the participation and support of numerous organizations, companies, agencies and institutions, as well as the general public. MASTRA offers a platform for individuals that belong to any of these organization or categories to interact both formally and informally, to catalyse initiatives, and to contribute to cooperative efforts in meeting these challenges. 

MASTRA sincerely invites everyone that cares about these issues to join us and make our voices louder.