Fourth Meeting of the MPA's International Advisory Group
Keeping Singapore ahead as a port and international maritime centre through leveraging on Information Technology will be one of the four topics which 11 international shipping and maritime personalities will discuss at the fourth meeting of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)'s International Advisory Group (IAG). The meeting will take place from 22 to 23 August 2000. Held at the Regent Singapore, the event will also see the MPA's advisers provide advice to the MPA in other key areas namely Feeder Line Network, Total Supply Chain Management and Chemical Hub.
Chairing this annual meeting is Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large and Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation. Said Mr Peter Ho, Chairman of MPA, "Since the establishment of the IAG in 1997, the MPA has learned much from the IAG members on how Singapore can stay ahead as a leading port and develop into a premier international shipping centre. Moreover, the IAG meeting also serves as an important platform for us to renew ties with distinguished personalities in the international maritime community." (Refer to Appendix 1 for list of members attending 4th IAG meeting and their bio-data.)
During the next two days, the IAG members will attend briefings by key government agencies. They will also meet with the Minister for Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Mr Yeo Cheow Tong, and Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology.
Synopsis of topics to be discussed over the two-day meeting:
A. How can Singapore strengthen its Feeder Line Network?
An efficient and well-integrated feeder network is crucial for any port that aims to be a successful transhipment hub. The development of common feeders offering frequent and reliable connections in the region has contributed to Singapore's status as a global transhipment hub. The objective for this roundtable topic is to generate discussion among the IAG members on how Singapore can strengthen its feeder line network.
B. Trend of Shipping Lines Integrating the Total Supply Chain: the Implications for Ports
Much has been said about shipping lines moving from providing services port-to-port to providing services door-to-door in response to their customers' need for a total logistics solution. The MPA would like an assessment of the strength of this trend, and establish its implications for ports, including how our port can leverage on this trend to develop Singapore as a logistics and distribution centre.
C. Rotterdam's Experience as a Chemical Hub: Lessons for Singapore
The growth in Singapore's chemical industry provides us with the foundation to develop Singapore as a regional chemical hub. To this end, we want to generate discussion among the IAG members on the lessons that could be drawn from the port of Rotterdam.
D. Capitalising on IT/E-Commerce in Singapore's Development as a World Class Port
Information Technology (IT) is an important tool used by many companies to stay globally competitive in this fast-moving world. Particularly, e-commerce has also changed existing business paradigms. Singapore has been a pioneer in the use of IT. We would like to generate discussion from the IAG members on how our port and shipping sector could leverage on IT and e-commerce to gain a competitive edge and create value for the industry.
Attachments:
Appendix 1 - list of members attending the 4th IAG meeting and their brief bio-data.
APPENDIX 1
MEMBERS ATTENDING MPA'S 4TH INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP MEETING AND THEIR BIO-DATA
PROFESSOR TOMMY KOH
Ambassador-At-Large and Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation
CHAIRMAN IAG
Professor Tommy Thong-Bee Koh is currently Ambassador-At-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation.
Professor Koh was the Second Arthur & Frank Payne Visiting Professor at the Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, USA for 1994/5. He was a member of the UN's High-Level Advisory Board on Sustainable Development from 1993 to 1995. He was also a member of the Earth Council from 1993 to 1996. Prof Koh is on the Board of Directors of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. He is a member of the International Council of the Asia Society (New York) and the Advisory Board of the Center for Strategic & International Studies (Washington). He is also a member of the Toyota International Advisory Board.
RONALD BERGMAN
Immediate Past President
Baltic & International Maritime Council (BIMCO)
Mr Ronald Bergman is the Immediate Past President of the Baltic & International Maritime Council (BIMCO). He was the President of BIMCO from June 1997 to May 1999 and has served as a Board Member of BIMCO since 1993. Founded in 1905 as The Baltic and White Sea Conference, the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) is now the world's largest private shipping organisation with over 2,650 members worldwide in more than 100 countries.
BRIAN BOLAM
Chief Executive Officer
Columbus Logistics Corporation Limited
Mr Brian Bolam founded Penske Logistics Europe in May 1997 and was the President of the company till late 1999, when he assumed the post of the CEO of Columbus Logistics Corporation Limited. The Columbus Logistics Corporation Limited seeks to work with all aspects of the industry from shippers, carriers, freight Forwarders, 3PL and consultancy companies in order to offer its clients access to leading edge technology and thinking.
ERNST G. FRANKEL
Professor of Ocean Systems
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Professor Ernst G. Frankel is currently Professor of Ocean Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has held that position since 1968. He is also Senior Advisor to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and Advisor to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). He holds directorships in several companies including Neptune Orient Lines Ltd (NOL).
DIRK GOEDHART
Former Managing Director
Philips International B.V.
Mr Goedhart is the former Managing Director of Corporate Forwarding, Philips International B.V, which is a market and profit-oriented business function for the international physical movement of goods and customs issues worldwide. He held his position from 1985 to 1998. Mr Goedhart is also non-executive President Director of Bossche Container Terminal and Chairman of the Cargo Co-ordinating Forum at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. He was appointed as a Board Member of Neptune Orient Lines Lte (NOL) in the first half of 1997.
ROY E. HEARREAN
President, Board of Harbor Commissioners
Port of Long Beach
Mr Roy E. Hearrean was elected President of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners in August 1999. Since 1991, he has been serving as a Commissioner of the Board. He was instrumental in the development of the International Trade Council, a committee composed of representatives from trade associations throughout Long Beach, whose mission is to promote international trade and export development in Southern California.
LIN SUN-SAN
Chairman
Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Limited
Mr Lin Sun-san, is the Chairman of Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Limited. Mr Lin began his career with the Evergreen Marine Corporation as its Executive Vice President. He became President of the company in 1982 and Vice-Chairman in 1988, before being appointed Chairman in 1993. Presently, Evergreen has vast interests in ports, container terminals and trailer transportation, including Uniglory Marine Corporation, Evergreen Container Terminal Corporation, Evergreen Transportation Corporation. It is also at investing in new and potential growth areas to further strengthen its global transportation network.
SATYA N. NANDAN
Secretary-General
International Seabed Authority (ISA)
Mr Satya N. Nandan was elected as the first Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority on 21 Mar 96. He was Fiji's representative to the United Nations (1970-76 and 1993-95), and had served as Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Mr Nandan also served as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Law of the Sea from 1983 to 1992.
NILS-GUSTAF PALMGREN
Chairman
UK P&I Club
Mr Nils-Gustaf Palmgren worked as an Assistant Lawyer at Effoa - Finland Steamship Company Ltd. Within the company, he had held various appointments including Manager of Legal Department and Deputy Managing Director. In 1987, he was appointed Managing Director of Neptun Maritime (Finland) Co. Ltd and Managing Director of Neptun Juridica Co. Ltd in 1991. Mr Palmgren has been a Board member of the U.K. P&I Club since 1983. He was the Vice Chairman of the U.K. P&I Club from 1992 - 1995, and the Chairman from 1995.
WILLEM SCHOLTEN
Chairman, Management Board
Rotterdam Municipal Port Management
Mr Willem Scholten's career centred on port management, the offshore and salvage sector. In 1980, Mr Scholten joined the Rotterdam Municipal Port Management (RMPM) as its Deputy Managing Director. In 1982, he returned to Smit International to take up the appointment of Managing Director of a salvage company Smit Tak. He was on the Board of Smit International Holding from 1985 to 1990. In 1990, Mr Scholten returned to the Rotterdam Municipal Port Management as its Executive-Director. In 1992, he was appointed as Chairman of the Rotterdam Municipal Port Management and is currently holding that position.
SUMATE TANTHUWANIT
Chief Executive Officer
Regional Container Lines Public Company Limited
Mr Sumate Tanthuwanit graduated from the Chulalongkorn University with a Bachelor Degree in Engineering (Hons) in 1968. In 1972, he obtained a Master Degree in Management Engineering from the Asian Institute of Technology. Mr Tanthuwanit began his shipping career with his family-owned Ngow Hock Company in 1973. In 1980, he established the Regional Container Lines (RCL) to provide feeder services between Thailand and Singapore. Within a short span of eight years, he had RCL listed on the Stock Exchange in Thailand. He is currently the Group President of RCL Public Company Limited. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Thai Prosperity Terminal Company Limited and Sintanachote Company Limited, which provide wharf, container freight station and bonded warehouse facilities.
RCL Public Company Limited is a Thai feeder line operator. Over the years, RCL has established itself as Asia's leading common feeder operator, offering a comprehensive and efficient network of services.
TIM RHEIN
Chairman
American President Lines Limited
Mr Tim Rhein is currently the Chairman of the American President Lines (APL) Limited and Director of the Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) Group. He graduated from the University of Santa Clara and served as a Captain in the US Army Transportation Corps prior to joining APL in 1967. Mr Rhein had previously served in various key positions in marketing, operations, land transport and logistics in APL.
American President Lines Limited (APL) is currently the world's seventh largest ocean transportation company with a fleet of 60 containerships. It provides container transportation and logistics services through a network of high quality intermodal operations with state-of-the-art information technology.
End of Release.