2011 The 5th GSS Was Held in Shanghai on Nov. 24th & 25th Freight Forwarding Companies Gathering Together to Seek for Development

On Nov. 24th afternoon, 2011 the 5th Global Shipping Summit & the 1st International Freight Forwarder Alliance Convention organized by ShippingChina (www.shippingchina.com) was successfully opened in Shanghai. Over 500 top shipping management from over 20 countries, including ports, shipowners, logistics, shippers, and financials participated. This year’s theme was “International Power & China Pattern”, including keynote speech, forums and one-to-one business connection. It provided all attendee companies the industry trend and how to seek for business chances and business connection platform. Several seminars were held at the same time, including seminars by China Shipowners' Association, China Association of Shipping Agencies & NVOCC, ports, ocean shipping, logistics and etc. Through these seminars, specific problems and cooperation demanding were discussed to achieve and maximize enterprise’s business opportunities.

Mr. Gu Jiahe, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce addressed welcoming speech at the opening ceremony. VIPs participated and did keynote speech, including Mr. Zhi Guanglu, Deputy Director General from Bureau of Water Transport, Ministry of Transport, P.R. China, Ms. Suo Husheng, Secretary General of China Communications and Transportation Association, Mr. Zhang Shouguo, Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary General of China Shipowners' Association, Mr. Dai Dingyi, Executive Vice President from China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing, Mr. Xing Dezhang, Vice-Chairman & Secretary General of China Association of Shipping Agencies & NVOCC, Ms. Shi Yanqiu, Secretary-General of China Container Industry Association, Mr. Shen Shaoji, President of Association of China Warehouses and Storage, Mr. Zhang Denghui, Assistant President & Chief Captain of China Shipping (Group) Company, Mr. Zhang Ye, President of Shanghai Shipping Exchange, Mr. Christophe Cheyroux, GM of China Region, Port of Le Havre and etc.

The 1st WIFFA Annual Conference was held at the same time. All participants agreed that with the increasing competition in the shipping market, also with the changing pattern of the industry, freight forwarding’s traditional profit model will come to an end and we must join together to seek for a breakthrough and development. So under ShippingChina’s advocacy, the International Shipping & Logistics Joint Stock Group Company led by capital operation started its establishment preparation. It was discussed in depth by all participants. The next step is through headquarter platform, a few or dozens of companies from each port will be provided with services including centralized billing, centralized purchasing, centralized supply and centralized logistics. In addition, the "cloud" platform built by ShippingChina providing integration services, including booking, business transaction, payment and security was demonstrated at the event. And it was keen interested by the participating companies.

Top leaders from China’s four major shipping associations, experts and business leaders from domestic and overseas participated in two forums with themes of “Horizontal Integration & Deep Development” & "Shipping, Logistics, Supply Chain" for the future development of the shipping industry. Official leaders from Shanghai and Qingdao government brought their local ports, shipping and trade companies, more than 100 enterprises involved in the project connection in group form in order to promote and develop the local port and shipping economy by the dual forces of government and enterprises. Lianyungang Port, Wuhugang Port, Port of Le Havre, France, Dunkirk Port and etc., total about 10 port companies and 20 shipping companies had a business connection seminar. Through discussion and communication among ports, shipowners, shippers to promote win-win cooperation. Preliminary cooperation intentions were concluded by companies. China Association of Shipping Agencies & NVOCC held a seminar with topics including "Analysis of Terms & Conditions of NVOCC B/L”, "How to Get Bank Loans without Mortgage by NVOCC", "NVOCC’s Internal Cooperation & Communication System" and etc. More than 30 companies together with banks, insurance companies participated and discussed about future development opportunities. It played a catalytic role for NVOCC and other companies.

The summit had a business connection and cooperation seminar. More than 300 enterprises found their partners under GSS Committee’s recommendation and assistance. Over 200 preliminary cooperation agreements were signed.