Over 400 professionals from the ports and maritime sector meet face-to-face for the first time since Guangzhou conference in 2019
The IAPH 2022 World Ports Conference got underway today in Vancouver, British Colombia at its iconic Waterfront Convention Center, with over 400 delegates from around the world returning to meet each other in the first in-person event in nearly three years.
In his welcome address to the Conference, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke about how global supply chains are experiencing unprecedented disruptions. He cited the Budget 2022 National Trade Corridors fund which has a proposal on the table to increase expenditure in order to make Canadian transport infrastructure more resilient. He also mentioned the national supply chain summit last January which brought together Canadian stakeholders to discuss how to make the country’s connections more secure and efficient.
Robin Silvester, president and ceo of Vancouver Fraser Port Authority commented: “On behalf of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, we are delighted for the Port of Vancouver to be host port of the IAPH 2022 World Ports Conference. As Canada’s largest and most diversified port, the Port of Vancouver enables Canada’s trade with more than 170 world economies. It's great to welcome port leaders to Vancouver for our first in-person World Ports Conference since 2019, to discuss how we can work together to build our resiliency as global ports.
The theme of digitization of communications and digitalization of processes between ship and shore and along the entire global maritime supply chain is expected to be a core topic of the #IAPH2022 conference.
IAPH’s Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven commented : “Prior to the conference, we held eight #CloseTheGaps regional workshops consulting 85 port users, service providers and IAPH member ports in 35 countries. The common belief arising from these workshops is that digitalization can be a potential way forward. This would not just improve efficiency and connectivity at ports in the short and medium term. It could also reduce carbon emissions and improve ports’ resilience in the long run. However, the overwhelming concern is that this requires a coalition of the willing between public and private stakeholders to share data, to structure data exchange globally in a uniform way, and ensure good governance with the support and involvement of governing bodies in the whole process.”
The conference takes place between 16 -18 May, bringing together leading port stakeholders to #ClosetheGaps in global seaport competitiveness, and setting an agenda to raise the performance of the world’s major port regions.
Contact for the release: Victor Shieh, IAPH Communications Director
Email : victor.shieh@iaphworldports.org
Tel : +32 473 980 855
About IAPH
Founded in 1955, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has developed into a global alliance of 161 port authorities, including many of the world’s largest port operators as well as 126 port-related businesses. Comprised of 87 different nationalities across the world’s continents, member ports handle approximately one third of the world’s sea-borne trade and well over 60% of the world container traffic. With its NGO consultative status recognized by the IMO, ECOSOC, ILO, UNCTAD, UNEP, and WCO, IAPH leads global port industry initiatives on decarbonization and energy transition, risk and resilience management, and accelerating digitalization in the maritime transport chain. Its World Ports Sustainability Program has grown into the reference database of best practices of ports applying the UN Sustainable Development Goals and integrating them into their businesses.
Prime Minister image : copyright: 1N2A2604.CR3: PMO / CPM