(HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Raymond Yip (center) unveils details of the eighth Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference at a press briefing, joined by Frankie Yick (L), legislative Councillor of Hong Kong for the Transport Constituency and chairman of the HKTDC Logistics Services Advisory Committee; and Simon Wong (R), CEO of The Hong Kong R&D Center for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies.)
The eighth Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference, the industries’ annual signature event jointly organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is scheduled Nov. 20-21 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. This year’s ALMC is set to focus on three key areas—Asian connectivity, new retail revolution and its implications to logistics and logistics technology—and examine their respective impacts on the industry. About 70 luminaries from the logistics and maritime sectors plan to share their insights at the conference, which is expected to attract more than 2,000 industry players from more than 30 countries and regions.
“Asian countries and regions are now pushing forward various trade agreements and regional development strategies, including the Hong Kong Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade Agreement signed last year, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development plan, and the China-Singapore Initiative on Strategic Connectivity,” says Raymond Yip, HKTDC deputy executive director. “Under the Belt and Road Initiative, many major infrastructure projects, including new road transport systems and port developments, have been kick-started, with a number of them already completed. Such projects foster the development of trade and logistics in Asia, driving better connectivity within the regional supply chain.”
According to the World Trade Organization’s recently published World Trade Report 2018, global trade is expected to grow by 1.8-2 percent annually between 2016 and 2030, with developing countries’ share of global trade increasing from 46 percent in 2015 to 57 percent by 2030. According to Mr Yip, this shows that emerging markets, spearheaded by the Chinese mainland, the Asia-Pacific region and countries in the ASEAN bloc, will be a major driving force behind global trade growth, spurring continued expansion of the region’s logistics sector. In addition, the rapid growth of e-commerce and new logistics technologies will create enormous opportunities for the logistics and maritime industries.
Some 70 highly respected industry experts are set to speak at the ALMC, with Dato Lim Jock Hoi, secretary-general, ASEAN, delivering the keynote address at the opening session. Among the highlights expected are the two plenary sessions. On 20 Nov, “Boosting Asian Connectivity for a New Regional Economic Order” is set to explore how the integration of railroad, road, maritime and air freight capabilities in Asia will impact on the region’s logistics and maritime industry. Karen Reddington, president, Asia-Pacific Division, FedEx Express are set to be among the panel speakers at the first plenary session.
In the age of e-commerce, the mode of delivery in the logistics supply chain has been undergoing rapid change. The second plenary session, “Online Shopping Revolutionizing Logistics & Supply Chain Management,” on Nov. 21, will look at how innovative technologies are offering advantages for the logistics industry and helping companies capture the latest online-to-offline (O2O) opportunities. Chaired by Fox Chu, a partner at McKinsey & Company, the panel is set to feature speakers including Yang Haifeng, general manager, Value Supply Chain Department, JD Logistics, and Cissy Chan, executive director, Commercial, Airport Authority Hong Kong.
Alongside the plenary sessions, other forums are planned to cover topical issues relating to supply-chain management and logistics, as well as the air freight and maritime industries. Topics set to be covered include cold-chain logistics, e-commerce, the International Civil Aviation Organization’s new air cargo security requirements and logistics technology in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Exhibitions and networking receptions are planned to be staged alongside the conference to provide participants with a more complete picture of the latest market intelligence and business opportunities.
This year’s ALMC sees various regional forums being organized to present the latest developments in regional logistics and economic cooperation. The city of Zhuhai plans to focus on logistics and trading opportunities brought about by the development of the Greater Bay Area and the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. A forum jointly organized by the cities of Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang are set to assess the implications of an intermodal logistics network connecting the hinterland of the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia, under the China-Singapore Initiative on Strategic Connectivity. A first-time organizer of a regional forum, E’Zhou is set to discuss its vision to work as an air freight hub for China and Eurasia, while CN, the Canadian National Railway, plans for the third time to organize a regional forum at ALMC, showcasing its latest global refrigerated service and the seamless cooperation between its railway network and North American ports.
A new session, Tech Dialogue, launches this year, featuring Dean Croke, chief analytics officer, Blockchain in Transport Alliance, and Sebastien Gendron, co-founder and CEO, TransPod. They will share the latest developments in blockchain technology and hyperloop transportation, respectively. A new feature at the ALMC exhibition is the Tech Demo Session, through which home-grown startups can introduce their innovative solutions for the industry.
This year’s exhibition is set to feature more than 100 exhibitors showcasing supply-chain management and logistics, maritime and related services, and providing professional services and solutions. To drive more business cooperation, more than 150 one-on-one business-matching sessions are being arranged to help exhibitors and participants foster business collaborations during the event.
ALMC is a flagship event of the Hong Kong Maritime Week, organized by the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board. The ALMC is supported by the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council and Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board. HKTDC invited 18 global leaders in the logistics and shipping industries and representatives of internationally renowned companies to serve as honorary advisors to provide advice on the agenda and content of the ALMC. For more info, visit www.almc.hk.
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council is the dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. HKTDC organizes international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more info, visit hktdc.com/aboutus
