Port of Tampa to host Shifting International Trade Routes Conference January 23-24

TAMPA, Fla.— The Port of Tampa and the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) are re-joining forces to host a key trade industry conference. The seventh annual Shifting International Trade Routes conference at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay Hotel, to be held January 23-24 is a program sponsored by the association, in cooperation with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd). The conference will examine the effect of the world economic outlook on investment decisions, cargo movements and international trade in general and will be attended by industry leaders from around the globe.

Experts from many facets of the transportation, financial and economic analysis industries will address the range of issues related to dynamic, global and hemispheric trade. Topics will include international economic outlooks on trends and shifts in global trade, as well as the views of ocean carriers, ports, terminal operators, warehouse and distribution centers, and rail interests on trade shifts.

“As we seek ways to stimulate our economic recovery and future growth, we should focus on the importance of implementing policies and funding that will sustain and improve our critical gateways for global trade,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and CEO. “For nations throughout the Western Hemisphere, raising the priority of investments in ports and connecting infrastructure is an essential and effective utilization of limited resources and helps make them more internationally competitive in an increasingly fierce trading environment.”

Mr. Nagle further noted that the discussion during AAPA’s seventh Shifting International Trade Routes workshop “will add layers of information and insight to help the seaport industry better position itself for future growth and success.”

Paul Anderson, Tampa Port Authority’s chief executive, said, “The Tampa Port Authority is very pleased to host this successful AAPA conference. Not only do we get to bring together top transportation and logistics minds from across the globe and benefit from the wealth of their knowledge but we also get to highlight the great things we are doing here in Tampa Bay. We’re in an exciting, dynamic era in international trade, and this forum is a perfect opportunity to share ideas that will lead to prosperity, strong relationships and actions that will be critical to our economy.” --MORE--

Confirmed speakers include (in alpha order):

Paul Anderson, Port Director/CEO, Tampa Port Authority
Oscar Bazán, Acting Exec. Vice President for Planning & Business Development, Panama Canal Authority
Paul Bingham, Economics Practice Leader, CDM Smith, Inc.
Leslie Blakey, Executive Director, Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC)
James R. Brennan, Partner, Norbridge, Inc.
Patrick Burgoyne, President/CEO, Ceres Terminals Incorporated
John R. Carver, Executive Vice President of Business Development, Ports America
Curtis Foltz, Executive Director, Georgia Ports Authority
John Kaliski, Principal, Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
John Morris, Industrial Services Lead for the Americas, Cushman & Wakefield Inc.
Karen Oldfield, President/CEO, Halifax Port Authority
Chris Smith, Intermodal Policy and Program Manager, American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
Derrick Smith, Vice President of Emerging Markets, CSX - Transportation
Sergio Spinosa, Director, Mediterranean – North and West Africa, Caribbean, X-Press Feeders
Carlos Urriola, General Manager, Manzanillo International Terminal, S.A.
Tay Yoshitani, CEO and 2013/14 AAPA Chairman of the Board, Port of Seattle

For more information on the program and to register, please visit:

http://www.aapa-ports.org/Programs/seminarschedule.cfm?itemnumber=19237