The year 2009 has seen no let-up of the boom in the shipping industry. The ever-growing demand, the increase in dry bulk freight, the recovery in the container business, the torrent of new shipbuilding orders-all these eye-catching movements in the market are creating opportunities and challenges. Moreover, the capital market is giving renewed backing to shipping, and funds are flowing into the business.
Shipping is changing. It is no longer the industry we knew twenty years ago. Globalization is creating huge demand and business opportunities for shipping, which itself is undergoing a fundamental structural change. Like the sea which we live with, shipping is experiencing turbulent waves. Now we are still on the crest of those waves, but we must wonder how far the market will go, and what will happen next.
So it is no accident that the organizers of this year's summit have chosen"Riding the wave"as the main topic. We believe the views and perspectives provided by top CEOs, industry analysts, economists, government agencies, institutional investors and fund managers will bring new insights. You may find the answers to some frequently asked questions, such as: To what extent is physical dry bulk affected by paper?Are we short of port facilities, or is investment in ports infrastructure getting overheated? Is it possible to get adequate returns on high-priced newbuildings and ships?Where are current trends heading in the integration of shipping and logistics?What is the financial institutions' perspective on the turbulent shipping industry?How much can the new emerging economies contribute? Where is our 'Blue Sea' ? And so on.

This year's summit will move to Tianjin, well known for the development of Binhai New Area. With the balance of the Chinese economy steadily shifting from south to north, and coming after the development of Shenzhen and Shanghai Pudong, Binhai New Area of Tianjin (BNAT) is in the process of becoming another hot property. Spurred on by the State Council's favorable economic policies, investment, labor and technologies are pouring into this new area. With its unique location connecting Beijing with the northern part of China, the Port of Tianjin has proved itself as one of the country's hub ports, and has the further aim of pooling the functions of port logistics, free trade zone, hi-tech, marine engineering and shipping services.
With 700 people expected to attend, the 2009 summit will create another networking opportunity for shipping and related industries.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Program at a Glance(Proposed):

We successfully held the"World Shipping (China) Summit" in Beijing,Shanghai and Shenzhen in the last three years. Hundreds of leading figures from the shipping industry, senior politicians and various industry experts attended the Summit. The Summit received an overwhelming response and was acclaimed as one of the largest and top level Summits in global shipping.