ASEAN ports, shipping summit opens in Phnom Penh

PHNOM PENH, Sep 12, 2019, The Khmer Times. The biggest event for the shipping industry in Southeast Asia kicked off yesterday in Cambodia. The 17th Asean Ports & Shipping 2019 got off to a good start yesterday at the NagaWorld Hotel & Casino, with some 170 delegates from 16 countries in attendance, reported The Khmer Times.

Rory James Doyle, managing director of Transport Events, said among those present were delegates from Asean countries, Europe, and North America. Transport Events is the main organiser of the event, which is being hosted by Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) and Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (PPAP).

Mr Doyle said Cambodia’s hosting of such an important event reflects its growing importance as an emerging economy in Southeast Asia. It is the first time Cambodia hosts the event, which is now on its 17th edition.

“There is a huge amount of interest in the emerging economies of Southeast Asia,” he said.

Mr Doyle said many businesses and investors in the shipping and logistics industry worldwide are interested in entering the Cambodian market. “They see the opportunities to do business in Cambodia,” he stressed.

Mr Doyle said the event gave delegates an opportunity to expand their networks in the Kingdom. “Many of them want to meet and talk with PAS and PPAP,” he noted.

The event also featured an exhibition by leading port operators and shipping-related businesses. These include PPAP, PAS, Ram Spreaders, Mantsinen, Tsubaki Kabelschlepp, Port Klang Malaysia, Liebherr, Malaysia Southern Gateways, Northport (Malaysia), IT Portlink, Apachi Solid Tyres, Sibre, Bromma, Wesports, and Vahle.

Varan Kumar, key accounts manager (commercial division) of Northport (Malaysia), said they are happy to join the event. “This is a very good networking platform,” he said, while also noting the investment potential and opportunities that Cambodia offer to foreign investors.

“While it is for the senior management to decide, we might consider investing here,” he stressed.

The opening day also featured panel discussions and talks on ‘smart ports’, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), returns and risks of port investments, and challenges facing the Cambodian shipping industry.

The event concludes today with another round of talks and panel discussions on important shipping-related topics by experts from Asia and other parts of the world.

Ros Vanna, secretary of state at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, also attended the event.