Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference To Open This Month
From left: C.C. Tung, Chairman, Orient Overseas (International) Ltd; Raymond Yip, HKTDC Assistant Executive Director; and Anna Lin, Chief Executive, GS1 Hong Kong, introduce the 2014 Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference. Mr Yip said ALMC 2014 will focus on four major trends; regional integration, the e-commerce boom, the development of supply chain management and overcoming challenges in the shipping industry |
6 November 2014 – The fourth edition of the Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference (ALMC) will run 18-19 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. During the ALMC, more than 50 industry experts will speak about the challenges and opportunities facing the logistics and maritime sectors.
Jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong SAR Government, ALMC is the largest event of its kind in Asia drawing over 1,700 business leaders from more than 20 countries and regions this year. Some 40 per cent of the participants will be users of logistics and maritime services, including manufacturers, traders and suppliers.
“Trading & Logistics is one of the four pillar industries in Hong Kong and accounts for roughly 26 per cent of the local GDP, so its importance to the economy of Hong Kong is never in doubt,” Raymond Yip, Assistant Executive Director of the HKTDC, said. “Hong Kong’s logistics industry enjoys clear advantages: the Central Government’s 12th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports the development of Hong Kong’s logistics industry as well as the consolidation and enhancement of Hong Kong’s status as an international maritime centre. The Central Government will also continue to lend support to Hong Kong to develop into an inventory management and regional distribution centre for high-value goods.”
Tackling Key Issues
Mr Yip highlighted four main trends in the global economy that are affecting the development of the logistics and maritime sectors. “These include regional economic integration brought about by a number of regional free trade agreements, the boom in e-commerce, evolution in supply chain management, and also the recovery of the shipping industry that is prompting new opportunities for logistics companies,” he said. “This year, ALMC will explore new alternatives for the industry by focusing on these trends as discussion themes.”
As global economic integration gathers momentum, many countries are negotiating regional free trade agreements (FTA), including the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP). The TPP is an FTA among 12 countries including Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan and the United States. Once the agreement is signed, the majority of customs tariffs and non-customs barriers, which are hampering bilateral trade and investment, will be abolished. The RECP, on the other hand, involves 16 Asian countries, and is viewed as a direct response to the TPP. Together the two agreements will start a shift in global consumption and production patterns and have a long-lasting impact on the logistics industry.
In recent years, the volume of e-commerce and online shopping has been growing significantly, which, combined with rapid advances in technology, are posing more demands on the scale and quality of logistics services and supply chain management. Furthermore, amid lacklustre global economic growth, the shipping industry is facing hurdles in terms of over-supply, business alliances and price wars. The liner, dry bulk and tanker trades are all facing significant challenges.
Trade Talk
Over 50 industry experts and representatives from globally renowned brands will speak at this year’s ALMC, including Dr Patrick Low, Vice President of Research, Fung Global Institute. Dr Low will be Panel Chair of a highlight event on the opening day of ALMC, the plenary session entitled “Drivers of Change: Navigating the New Competitive Landscape”. The session will discuss key issues affecting the global logistics, supply-chain management and maritime industries. It will feature such distinguished speakers as Dr Hubert Escaith, Chief Statistician of the World Trade Organization, Dr Henry Tan, Chief Executive Officer of Luen Thai Holdings Limited and Dr Karen Reddington, Regional Vice President, FedEx Express, South Pacific.
Also, themed forums will focus on such issues as the outlook for the logistics and maritime sectors, retail and fast-moving consumer goods as well as supply chain management for the electronics and fashion industries, and the strategic importance of the “New Silk Road” linking China, India and other Asian countries.
Panel speakers will include, among others, George Li, Group Vice President of SF Express; John Geng, Senior Vice President, LF Logistics (China) Co., Ltd; Ajit Nayak, Managing Director, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong and Taiwan; Anders Karlborg, Vice President, Logistics Department, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd; Robert Li, Executive Director, APEM Global Supply China, Lenovo Group; Henrik Hartzell, Managing Director, Far East, Heidmar; and Junichiro Ikeda, Director & Senior Managing Executive Officer, Mitsui O.S.K Lines, Ltd.
Exhibition Returns
For the second year in a row, ALMC will also feature an exhibition with some 80 exhibitors from about a dozen countries and regions showcasing their logistics, shipping and related services as well as e-logistics solutions. The exhibitors include shipping companies, container terminals, logistics firms, e-logistics enterprises and port authorities as well as law firms.
ALMC, with prominent speakers, forums, site visits and an exhibition, aims to keep industry players abreast of the latest developments and business opportunities as well as promote Hong Kong as a logistics and maritime hub in Asia. Nearly 100 one-on-one business matching sessions will also be arranged to give participants the chance to network and develop new business opportunities.
The conference is held in association with the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council, the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council and the Hong Kong Port Development Council, and supported by 25 industry leaders as our honorary advisors.
Beyond ALMC, the Logistics and Maritime Weeks, enables industry players from around the world to converge and participate in an expansive range of meetings, exhibitions and networking activities.
ALMC official website: www.almc.hk/tc
Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Corporate Communication Department:
Joe Kainz Tel: (852) 2584 4216 Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org
About HKTDC
A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 global offices, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises trade fairs and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in overseas markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com.