A delegation of the Port Authority of the Algeciras Bay (APBA), headed by the Commercial Director of the organization, Nicolás Martínez and Jesús Medina, Head of the Technological Development Area, has participated in the 7th edition of the International Port Cooperation Forum of the Maritime Silk Road.
The event, of great international renown and which brings together leaders of the maritime-port industry including Port Authorities, port operators, shipping and logistics companies, maritime industry associations and academic institutions, was held again in person at the Port of Ningbo on the 17th and 19th of July, after this edition was cancelled in 2022 as a result of the pandemic.
The Forum, set up with the aim of establishing a platform to promote communication and cooperation for the port and shipping ecosystem, focused on this occasion on investment in the port and shipping industry chain and the adjustment of business models; on the development of energy transformation and the application of new technologies; and, finally, on the current strategies and challenges of the industry.
Medina participated in the panel entitled “Smart Ports Innovation Summit“, together with the Chief Executive Office of the Solomon Islands Ports Authority, Eranda Kotelawala; the Chief Information Officer of MMCC Port Holdings, Gaurav Sharma; and the Head of China Representation of the German Logistics Association, Ying Liu. The panel was moderated by the Secretary General of the International Port Community Association (IPCSA), Nico de Cauwer, and addressed issues such as the definition of Smart Ports, as well as the key factors in this transformational process and the investments undertaken by ports, worldwide, to achieve this status; also highlighting current issues such as cybersecurity or the duality of operational efficiency versus the commitment to decarbonisation and sustainability of the industry.
This latest edition was attended by more than 3,000 representatives of some 400 organisations from more than 50 countries, including nearly a hundred Port Authorities, 80% of the top-20 shipping companies worldwide and 60% of the top-20 global logistics operators.
Finally, it is worth remembering that the Ports of Algeciras and Ningbo signed in 2018 a Memorandum of Understanding with the aim of promoting the increase of trade flows between Southern Europe and Asia, as well as the exchange of experiences and knowledge on emerging technologies applied to port management.
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