Los Angeles has been selected as the host city for the International Association of Ports and Harbors’ (IAPH) 28th World Ports Conference, set to be held at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles on May 6-10, 2013.
Founded in 1955, the Tokyo-based IAPH is a nonprofit global trade and advocacy group with members representing roughly 200 ports and 150 maritime companies and institutes from nearly 90 countries. The IAPH is dedicated to fostering cooperation among ports and harbors and promoting the vital role they play in creating a peaceful, more prosperous world. IAPH member ports handle about 80 percent of the world's container traffic and more than 60 percent of all international maritime trade.
The Port of Los Angeles is the official conference host and port staff have already begun preliminary work on the event. Working through a non-profit 501c4 entity approved in May by the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, the port will make the upfront investments to promote the conference and reserve facilities, as well as coordinate and solicit sponsorships.
Planners predict that as many as 1,000 IAPH member delegates and guests will attend the biannual conference – most of whom will travel to Southern California from destinations beyond North America. IAPH was formed nearly six decades ago due, in part, by a convening of members from the global port community in Los Angeles in 1955.
It is estimated by organizers that the conference will generate more than $3.6 million in economic activity in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
“The City and Port of Los Angeles are pleased and honored to host the 28th World Ports Conference that will generate millions of dollars for our City by spurring two of our largest industries: trade and tourism,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “With the largest shipping container port in the country, the City of Los Angeles is uniquely qualified to host this forum for the global port community to discuss common industry issues such as safety, climate change and clean technology standards.”
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
