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While OECD countries account for around 65% of the world shipbuilding production, a number of non-OECD economies have engaged in, or stepped up, shipbuilding activities over the last decade. Some non-OECD economies now hold a sizeable share in the world shipbuilding market and are most likely to increase it further. In particular, on most measures, China is now considered to be the world's largest producer.
Given the international character of the shipbuilding business, that is that all shipbuilders compete on the same world market, the sharing of knowledge concerning the developments and government policies are useful parameters not only for OECD members but also for non-OECD economies and industry.
Croatia, Romania are full participants in the WP6. The Russian Federation has been invited to become a regular observer.
A brief information sheet on the activities of the Council Working Party on Shipbuilding, with particular emphasis on its co-operation with its non-OECD partners, can be found here.
While non-OECD economies and industry regularly participate in the work of the WP6, the main form of engagement between the WP6 and non-OECD economies and industry are regular workshops that address key issues affecting world shipbuilding. Recent workshops were:
It is anticipated that the next in this series of workshops will be held in conjunction with the next meeting of the WP6 on 7-8 July 2011, and will deal with best practices in shipbuilding to address environmental and climate change issues.
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