Dear Participants of the “4th South-East Asia Port Expansion Summit”
I would like to express my gratitude for your participation in our “4th Annual South-East Asia Port Expansion Summit”. It was a sincere joy welcoming you at the conference, and seeing the vibrant interactions that took place among you all. We were honored to host parties flying in from around the world.
During the two day conference, our eminent speakers, moderators and panelists shared their in-depth expertise and viewpoints on a variety of themes. Topics ranged from perspectives on growth potential in South-East Asia`s ports (and it was clear that interpretations of the current opportunities widely differed), to the impact of OBOR, geopolitics, demographics, the new shipping alliances and consumption rather than production driven trade. Expansions at Kuantan Port, Laem Chabang, Penang Port, and Tanjung Priok were outlined in details. Discussed as well were: economy related pressure on small ports, optimizing logistics flow and connectivity, leveraging risks, and costing plus scaling development. But panels and speeches also touched on financing mechanisms, exit strategies, expectations towards governments, port eco-systems, technology, automation and digitalisation.
The program allowed to elaborate on the pressing challenges the region is facing: boosting competitiveness, assuring new/innovative revenue drivers and coping with the mushrooming of mega-ports in the region. The main theme throughout was the urgent need for mindset change, whether in realistically master planning growth and expansion, whether in terms of adaptation, innovation and differentiation to allow ports to sustain investments and/or become niche players.
To be brief the event is asking for a next edition! But in the meantime I, first of all, must thank all great contributors to this 2017 edition.
I would like to start expressing my gratitude to Mr. Ramesh Singhal for chairing the conference. Moreover, my deepest thanks and appreciations to the speakers for their tireless contributions and unique presentations:
• Patrick Tay, Senior Executive Director, Economics & Policy, PwC – PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services
• Aden Wong, Senior Consultant, Drewry
• Mazlim Bin Husin, General Manager, Operation, Kuantan Port Consortium Sdn Bhd
• Ibrahim Abdul Razzag Haleem, Chief Executive Officer, Maldives Ports Limited
• John Lim, Managing Director, CMA CGM Malaysia Sdn Bhd
• Tienchai Makthiengtrong, Administrator Level 13, Executive Officer, Laem Chabang Port, Port Authority of Thailand
• Anthony van der Hoest, Senior Manager Commerce, MTBS
• Prasetyadi, Director of Operations & IT Systems, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II (Persero), Indonesia Port Corporation
• Ramesh Singhal, Chief Executive Officer, i-maritime Consultancy Private Limited
• C.K. Manoharan, Head of Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal, Penang Port
• Azam Khan, Country Manager for Indonesia & Malaysia, IFC
• Patrick Ip, Managing Director, China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund (CAF)
• Natarajan Baskaran – Head Global Business Development, EPC Marine Projects, Afcons Infrastructure
Their presentations and insights spoke to the heart of the main issues facing the industry and their eagerness to build the industry is commendable.
Last but not least, I want to thank all our sponsors: Continental, Nanjing Port Machinery & Heavy Ind., Alphaliner, Franz Woelfer, Hyster-Yale, Terberg Tractors, Trelleborg, Gruppe Lighting, Be-Software, IFS Solutions, TVH Group, Goldbell, Staubli, Siwertell, Quantarad Technologies and Portek for their support in realizing this event.
Again, thank you for your valuable participation, I have no doubt that your presence and involvement directly contributed to the overall success of this meaningful event. We will keep you abreast of our upcoming industry events and I am earnestly looking forward to meeting with you again.
Kind regards,
Lieve Noppen | COO | Noppen Group
