HIP moves marketing reach and footprint in Asia Pacific region

Participants of Second Port Development South East Asia Summit

The Hambantota International Port (HIP) was the sole representative from South Asia at the recently held Second Port Development South East Asia Summit (PDSEAS 2023) in Vietnam. 

The summit, which brought together 30 industry leaders and over 200 senior executives from various related sectors, including government agencies, port authorities, port and terminal operators, shipping companies, port equipment suppliers, solution providers, investors, bankers and insurance companies, provided the HIP the platform to promote the port as well as showcase the regional advantages Sri Lanka brings to the maritime industry, in terms of connectivity.

Hambantota International Port Group CEO Johnson Liu said, “Port development is two pronged. While we develop facilities to ensure port services capacity at one level and look at the HIP’s efficiency levels and ensure it conforms to strictest health and safety protocols, we are also building a matrix of connectivity. Here in Hambantota, we have the strategic advantage of being in close proximity to the East West sea routes. Whilst connecting to this advantage, we are looking at ports in the South Asian region and direction to the HIP. This enables us to project our services to these ports and provide logistical support to those who wish to connect with the HIP either for transshipment or to actually set up a base to manufacture products in Sri Lanka, for export to various markets within and outside the region. While our transshipment business in RORO has expanded tremendously, the HIP is developing the next area of expansion by opening up its industrial park adjacent to the port complex.”

Port Investment Services Senior Manager Sabrina Edirisinghe represented the HIP in PDSEAS 2023 and made a presentation on how ‘Port Industrial Parks can be a catalyst for port development’ on the second day of the summit. She touched on the three vital factors on HIP’s positioning as South Asia’s regional transshipment port i.e. its close proximity to the Indian ocean’s East West sea routes, allowing for easy global connectivity, Sri Lanka’s access to the region and beyond through trade agreements and the unique opportunity maritime logistics has in dealing with a modern multipurpose port, maintaining the highest efficiency standards, backed with its track record in health and safety. 

“We had the opportunity to interact with maritime experts in South East Asia, Europe and the Middle East, which allowed for knowledge sharing and learning. I had the opportunity to showcase the strategic advantage Sri Lanka offered in terms of connectivity. Our connection to India, Bangladesh, Middle East and East Africa is a window to regional trade. While the HIP’s continuous growth in RORO, dry bulk and oil and gas have contributed to the port’s performance, the port’s industrial park is expected to contribute towards cargo generation, which in turn will trigger hinterland cargo movement, improving domestic connectivity. As more industries set up and logistics infrastructure development improves, we will strengthen the HIP’s position as a transshipment and gateway hub.” 

The PDSEAS was established to bring together regional ports and related industries with a view to ensuring a modern, well managed port sector, which is vital for South East Asia’s economic progress as well as expanding global trading routes. The summit sees the development of port infrastructure as a growing priority in the archipelagic region of some 24,000 islands, spanning 5,200km east to west and 3,400km from north to south.
Sri Lanka has the advantages of capitalising on its connection to India, Bangladesh, Europe, the Middle East and East Africa as well as multi-sectoral technical and economic cooperation with the BIMSTEC, which accounts for 22 percent of the global population. Currently Sri Lanka has free trade agreements (FTAs) and bilateral trade agreements with the EU, India, Singapore, Bangladesh and Pakistan and an FTA will be signed with Thailand in 2024.