Eleventh INAP Conference & Exhibition in Mokpo

Report from the INAP Mokpo Secretariat

As one of the staffs at INAP Mokpo secretariat, I would like to express my hearty thanks to all member ports about their superb participation in the 2009 INAP Mokpo Conference & Exhibition held from September 8 to 9, 2009 here in Mokpo, Korea.

I am also pleased to let them know that the Conference & Exhibition was a complete success and I appreciate their efforts in supporting the Conference. Through their initiative and active involvement, I am sure that we could make the successful conference and INAP Organization will become bigger and bigger.

About 1,000 guests gathered in the Conference & Exhibition and 56 guests were the delegation of INAP member ports coming from the Kochi Port Authority, Japan(36), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Philippines(10), Cebu Port Authority, Philippines(4), Port of Tanjung Perak, Indonesia(3), and Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka(1).

At the first day of the Conference(September 8, 2009), there were several events such as Opening Ceremony, General Assembly, Seminar, City and Cruise tour, and Reception. Many local business people as well as government officials attended and congratulated the 11th INAP Conference and Exhibition during the Opening Ceremony.

The General Assembly formalized the turn-over of the INAP chairmanship from the Port of Subic Bay, Philippines to Mokpo Newport, Korea and approved to designate the Port of Cebu as the INAP Host for 2010. All delegate participating in the General Assembly also agreed to make an memorandum of action plan for ITEP(INAP Technical Exchange Program). Academic Seminar on “How to vitalize Mokpo Newport” was simultaneously held in the same building with the General Assembly.

In the afternoon of the same day, all delegates enjoyed the City and Cruise tour. They saw a lot of beautiful sceneries in Mokpo City and Cruise took them around Mokpo port.

The plenary reports were delivered by all participating delegates on the second day, September 9, 2009, introducing their ports and focusing on the conference theme, “The Substantial Tie-up in INAP how to Cope with the Global Recession Crisis”. The reports were printed in booklet and handed out all guests at the second day’s symposium.

During the panel discussion of the symposium, all representatives of the member ports were deeply discussing the ITEP as the way to cope with the global recession and then they wrote their signature on “the Agreement of Action plan for ITEP.” Its main idea is that each member shall try to do the 1st exchange of working level personnel within a year, not later than the end of September, 2010. New chairman, Mr. Choi, also think that the ITEP would be his first priority thing for him to do during his chairman period. So, he already asked Mokpo staffs to make an actual plan and then to connect with member ports.

Finally, Most of the delegates visited Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and Historic site of Dr. Wangin in the second day afternoon. From the HSHI and the Historic site, they could see the process of building a vessel and they could more understand Korean culture.

In addition, Fist day’s welcoming banquet and Second day’s farewell luncheon must be the memorable events for all delegates of INAP Member ports. I am sure that they met a lot of local business people and enjoyed a perfect cultural performance of Korean Art during those times.

On behalf of Mokpo staffs, I promise that we will do our best to improve the INAP organization and I am keenly looking forward to seeing all INAP members in Cebu, Philippines next year.

Take Care!

Sincerely,
Do-Jeong Bong
General Manager of Mokpo Newport Co., Ltd.