The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) World Ports Conference – Abu Dhabi 2023, hosted by AD Ports Group, a global trade and logistics facilitator, has officially concluded last week with the kind of dynamic discussions that marked the event’s first two days.
Global port industry leaders, policymakers, and industry experts convened under the overarching theme of ‘Reinventing Ports.’
The closing day commenced with a compelling roundtable on port innovation, where technology experts showcased a real-world example of a port cyber resilience center. The discussions then shifted to examining the economic outlook for global container ports, offering insights from analysts, academics, and industry leaders.
These discussions took into account geopolitical considerations, sourcing trends, emissions regulations, and the evolving landscape of shipping alliances.
Later in the morning, participants were privy to updates on the World Bank’s Port Reform Toolkit. The toolkit, which has served as a model for the private-public concessioning of landlord ports in many countries, was presented by the World Bank’s lead transport economist.
Sustainability remained a central theme on the conference’s final day, aligning with the UAE’s current Year of Sustainability initiative. The day’s events included a panel session featuring Her Excellency Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change Champion for COP28, and President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The session explored tangible decarbonisation tools for shipping and ports, emphasizing the benefits they can bring.
This topic will also take center stage at the upcoming Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP28) in Dubai later this month.
Concluding the conference, Othman Khouri, Acting Executive Director, Corporate Authority, AD Ports Group, remarked, “At AD Ports Group, we see the transition to clean energy and digital transformation as opportunities rather than challenges, which is why sustainability and digitalization lie at the heart of our business strategy. The past three days have offered a unique platform to discuss and gain insights into how the ports industry is addressing these themes, which will play a central role in the industry’s evolution. I would like to thank everyone who participated and wish Hamburg Port Authority the very best of luck in hosting next year’s World Ports Conference.”
The IAPH World Ports Conference – Abu Dhabi 2023 has provided a vital forum for global port industry stakeholders to collaborate, share ideas, and shape the future of the industry in an era of innovation and sustainability. The event’s success underscores the importance of these discussions as ports continue to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing global landscape.
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