Top Sri Lanka Ports, Trade & Logistics conference and expo starts

Positioned as the new Asian gateway and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, Sri Lanka’s maritime and logistics initiatives will be given another boost from the inauguration of Sri Lanka Ports, Trade & Logistics two-day Conference and Exhibition that commences on 10 July 2012 at the Hilton Hotel in Colombo.

The conference supported by Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), will be an important annual fixture in the international maritime events diary.

The two-day conference is scheduled to focus several key important areas of maritime and logistics initiatives: requirement of an efficient, integrated communication system to convert Sri Lanka to a real maritime hub, advancing the continued growth and development of the global maritime industry, the importance of emerging maritime hubs in the Indian Ocean, the newest and most exciting Indian Ocean market and gateway to Asia – why Sri Lanka is a favourable destination for investment and driving forward and expanding the commercial and projects sector in Sri Lanka – a leading Sri Lanka agency’s perspective.

The conference will also look into matters pertaining to the financing and investing in major maritime projects in Sri Lanka that include an overview of the financial and economic climate in the country,



South Asia markets and port finance, accessing international debt for infrastructure developments in Sri Lanka, supporting reconstruction and development in Sri Lanka – viewpoints from international financial and lending institutions, the hub modernising of the regulatory environment in Sri Lanka and the importance of human capital as well as identifying and making the right commercial and investment decisions when developing major maritime projects.

Further attention has also been driven at the conference towards broader perspectives on major projects, market analysis, supply chain management, automation and technology that include key areas such as attracting investment and choosing the right project partners, an analysis and review of major maritime development projects in Sri Lanka, an analysis of the Colombo Port expansion Project and the development of a ‘green port’ – the Qatar experience.

Upon market, supply chain, technology and automation analysis, the conference will also focus at furthering at supply chain management, free zone development and logistics in Sri Lanka, regional market assessment – the Indian container port sector’s trends and emerging opportunities, supply chain management and logistics from a ship management perspective – can Sri Lanka meet the challenges and expectations?; meeting the challenges, oil and gas development in Sri Lanka and the Indian sub continent, ship power’s emerging technologies and trends in automation technology.

The developing matters pertaining to maritime security and piracy and Sri Lanka’s emerging role will also be discussed under the use of force consideration for armed security, issues arising from the use of armed guards and the new BIMCO Guardcon document, securing safe passage and understanding the risks at sea and utilisation of the latest technology, risk assessment and best practices.

The two-day conference initiated by Minister of Transport Kumara Welgama will be addressed by a number of domestic and international speakers including Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama – Chairman of SLPA, Capt. Nihal Keppetipola – Managing Director of SLPA, M.M.C. Ferdinando – Chairman of the SL Board of Investment, Dr. Willie Gamage – Chairman and CEO of the SL Strategic Enterprise Management Agency, Gen. Sanath Karunarathne – Director (Security) SLPA, Rohan Masakorala – CEO of the Shippers Academy, Anirban Ghosh Dastidar – CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, Rita O’Sullivan – Country Director of the Asian Development Bank in Sri Lanka, Ruanthi De Silva – Group Director of Supply Chain Management, Capt. Rohan K. Codippilly – Director and General of Mercantile Marine Management Ltd.; Bernhard Schulte – Ship Management Group Hong Kong, Kamal Dorabawila – Principal Investment Officer of the Asia, IFC, Noboru Ueda – Chairman and President of the Class NK Japan, Dr. Jonathan Beard – Executive Director of the ICF GHK and Managing Director of GHK Hong Kong Ltd.; Manav Futnani – Director Project and Export Finance, HSBC Securities & Capital Markets of India Pvt Ltd.; Bill Burns – Partner of Mercator International UK, Shailesh Garg – Director Drewry Consulting India, CMDE (R) Arun Julka – ISC Regional General Manager Business Development Oil and Gas Support Services GAC, Ibrahim Behairy – Sales Director of Power for Middle East & Africa Wartsila, Stefan Schwiers – EVP Middle East – Identec Solutions Germany, Tim Stear – Global Head of Maritime Security – Control Risks, Kevin Doherty – President of Nexus Consulting Group USA, Simon Cartwright – Senior Lawyer & Partner, Holman, Fenwick & Willan Middle East LLP, Andrei Kharchanka – Manager of Risks Claims and Litigation BBC Chartering Germany and Jenny Maclean – Maritime Compliance Manager (Control Risks).

The Sri Lanka Ports, Trade & Logistics Conference and Exhibition will also have an extensive social programme of a golf networking afternoon, a gala dinner with the launch of a regional Seatrade Maritime awards evening at the Cinnamon Lakeside and a cocktail reception at the British High Commission in Colombo.