Date: 30-31.05.2013

Place: Varna, Bulgaria

Website: www.espo-conference.com

Port Development Through Cooperation - Towards New Synergies

Including a Special Interest Seminar on Regional cooperation in the Black Sea

The ESPO Conference heads to the shores of the Black Sea this year. With ‘cooperation’ as overall theme, the conference will discuss ways in which port authorities, operators and stakeholders can foster development and improve performance by working together. Specific issues to be explored include integration of ports in infrastructure corridors, marketing and promotion of port regions as well as intercontinental strategies of port authorities.

Continuing a long-standing tradition, the conference will also devote considerable attention to EU policy developments. If all goes according to schedule, the ESPO 2013 Conference may well be the first industry platform to discuss the European Commission’s new proposals on market access and transparency in ports that are expected to be published in the months to come.

Prior to the conference, a special interest seminar will focus on regional port cooperation in the Black Sea. This will mark the occasion of ESPO’s first event held in the ‘youngest’ region of the EU.

Newly added speakers in the programme include: Philippe De Backer, Member of the European Parliament, Roger Clasquin, Director Port of Rotterdam International, Jean-Claude Terrier, General Manager Port of Marseille-Fos, Jean-Paul Siccard, Senior Supply Chain Manager Essential Chemicals at Solvay, Alexander Atanassov, General Director Maersk Bulgaria ltd., Sofia Neirynck, CEO Porteco, Christopher North, Head of Unit at TEN-T Executive Agency, Manfred Seitz, General Secretary Pro Danube International, Joan Amorós, Secretary General, Ferrmed, Olaf Merk, OECD, Thanos Pallis, University of the Aegean and Hercules Haralambides, Erasmus University Rotterdam.

These new names complete the list of already confirmed speakers: Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO Port of Antwerp, Paolo Costa, President Port of Venice, Sylviane Delcuve, Senior Economist BNP Fortis Bank, Alfons Guinier, Secretary General ECSA, Stavros Hatzakos, President MedCruise, Alan Long, Chairman EPCSA, Olena Losevska, Attorney at Law Interlegal Ukraine, Hervé Martel, CEO Port of Le Havre, Stefan Neychev, Chairman Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Co., Theo Notteboom, Chairman ITMMA, Jean-Eric Paquet, Director DG Move, Isabelle Ryckbost, Director EFIP, Mikhail Sokolov, First Deputy General Manager Odessa Commercial Sea Port, Dimitrios Theologitis, Head of Unit DG Move, Patrick Uyttendaele, Director MTBS, Eero Vanaale, Consultant Drewry, Larissa van der Lugt, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Eric Van Hooydonk, Portius / University of Ghent.

The latest programme can be found on www.espo-conference.com where you can also register and book your accommodation.

An exciting programme, genuine Bulgarian hospitality and a five-star venue in a prime seaside resort will make the ESPO 2013 Conference a truly unforgettable event.

The ESPO 2013 Conference is organised
in cooperation with Bulgarian Ports
Infrastructure Company