Joost Sitskoorn
Some of the key issues facing shippers will be explored during an informative Shippers’ Panel at Intermodal Asia 2015, which takes place at Shanghai World Exhibition and Convention Centre from 24-26 March.
Taking place on day two of the three day event, the shippers panel conference session will be chaired by Joost Sitskoorn, Special Envoy of the European Shippers’ Council. One of the main topics expected to be raised is service levels within the industry and cooperation between shippers, freight forwarders, and logistics service providers.
“Intermodal Asia provides a good opportunity for logistics service providers, freight forwarders and shippers to meet and discuss common issues, ” explains Joost Sitskoorn. “Usually, for example, logistics providers will talk amongst themselves and shippers will talk amongst themselves, but at Intermodal Asia and Europe, all parties are involved and can discuss issues together – I think that is very important.”
Speakers already confirmed to sit on the shippers’ panel include Mr. Frank Tang of the Macao Shippers’ Council, Mr. Toto Dirgantoro of the Indonesian National Shippers’ Council and representatives from the Hong Kong Shippers’ Council and the Thai National Shippers’ Council.
Businesses within the shipping industry are always on the lookout for ways to make trade facilitation quicker and more efficient, so another key topic for discussion will be trade facilitation and the use of ICT systems to help improve this, which will also include the topic of data input and data sharing.
Those expected to attend the conference session include shipping lines, freight forwarders, logistics service providers and shippers.
“I was a conference speaker at Intermodal Europe 2014 in Rotterdam and I was surprised at the diversity of people present, including representatives from some port authorities – it would be great to see some in Shanghai for Intermodal Asia 2015” says Joost Sitskoorn. “There is a lot of misunderstanding in the industry, and the event provides a good opportunity to talk about the issues at hand, including service levels and innovations within the industry, and provides the space to look at the best way for the market to move forward.”
Intermodal Asia is organised by Informa Exhibitions, in partnership with CCIA (China Container Industry Association) and the Integrated Transport Federation of the China Communications and Transportation Association (CCTA), as well as benefitting from the full support of the world’s largest container manufacturer, CIMC (China International Marine Containers).
The event is following in the successful footsteps of Intermodal Europe, which has already sold over 80% of its exhibition space for the 2015 event, to be held at the Hamburg Messe in Germany on 17-19 November.
“Jo”
