Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd.

As part of efforts to promote international inter-port cooperation, foster sustainable growth, and encourage the holding of international conferences in Taiwan, the Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) has worked with the Association of Pacific Ports (APP) since 2012 to host the APP’s annual conference. As a result, the 102^nd APP Annual Conference will be held from August 17^th - 19^th of this year (2015) in Kaohsiung. Current APP members include Taiwan’s four major commercial ports (Keelung, Kaohsiung, Taichung and Hualien) as well as key Pacific ports in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the island nations of the Pacific. The organizers hope that the meetings and seminars held under the 102^nd Conference will offer a productive exchange of new technologies, knowledge, and management experience and continue to foster closer cooperation among Pacific ports for mutual prosperity and economic growth.

Originally known as the Pacific Coast Association of Port Authorities (PCAPA), APP was founded in 1913 with a mission to research Pacific shipping trends, propose solutions to current related problems, and, in the process, strengthen solidarity within the maritime shipping sector. The Port of Taichung first joined APP in 2001, followed by the Ports of Kaohsiung (2002), Keelung (2003) and Hualien (2005). The APP Annual Conference was hosted by the Port of Taichung in 2004 and by the Port of Keelung in 2010. After the reorganization of Taiwan’s ports in 2012, TIPC assumed membership in APP as the representative all of Taiwan’s international commercial ports. Furthermore, TIPC President Tai-hsin Lee is Chairman of the 102^nd APP Annual Conference Committee. This conference will be the first held in Taiwan since the 2012 reorganization and the first held in Kaohsiung - providing an opportunity to further raise the international profile of southern Taiwan among the global maritime shipping community.

In addition to representatives from the 32 APP member ports, TIPC has invited senior officials from the region’s main cruise ship lines, including Princess Cruises, Star Cruises, Nippon Maru, and HNA Cruises. TIPC hopes that the 102^nd APP Conference will thus provide an additional opportunity for APP members to discuss and exchange experiences with key members of the cruise vacation industry and to better appreciate and promote the central role of Taiwan’s ports in the Pacific cruise business. Taiwan, surrounded by the sea, has well-equipped, modern ports serving all four regions of the country. The country is further blessed with beautiful natural scenery, diverse local products. Its location along the main maritime route linking Northeast Asia, China, and Southeast Asia makes Taiwan a highly competitive center of cargo and passenger transportation across the region. To highlight some of the myriad attractions in southern Taiwan that regularly attract cruise vacation visitors, TIPC has organized Southern Taiwan Spotlight itineraries for conference attendees that include a harbor tour, Taiwanese art excursion, a visit to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center, and a Tainan City heritage tour.

TIPC officials note that the “Ecology, LOHAS, Green Dynamism @ the Port of Kaohsiung” theme of this year’s APP Annual Conference reflects the growing green sustainability emphasis of international port operations. Green, sustainable sources of energy are critical to the future growth of ports. Ecological conservation and the development of LOHAS-oriented business opportunities are key components to making green sustainability a reality. TIPC is looking to use the APP Annual Conference to spotlight and promote some of its important green-port accomplishments, to enhance the global visibility of Taiwan’s ports, and underscore the commitment of TIPC ports to exceptional business operations and to creating sustainable value as a framework to attract business that share similar ecological and sustainability values.