Welcome Messages

Welcome Message from the Dean of Faculty of Business,

Ir Professor T.C. Edwin Cheng

Hong Kong is a major trading economy and an international maritime centre with one of the world’s busiest ports and airports. According to the World Bank’s 2018 Logistics Performance Index, we rank 12^th globally. We have good connections with urban centres in the region and half of the world’s population is within five hours’ flight from us. Strategic location, easy accessibility, and well-developed infrastructure make this city a popular destination for meetings and exhibitions, as well as for business and holiday visitors.

The International Forum on Shipping, Ports and Airports (IFSPA), hosted by the CY Tung International Centre for Maritime Studies and the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies at the Faculty of Business of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is where academics and practitioners from around the world converge for exchange of views and information. From a workshop in 2007 to the presently important event of the transport and logistics industries, it has grown alongside the business and economic development of Hong Kong. The forthcoming 10^th event, themed “Beyond Breakthroughs, Above Excellence”, will continue to bring together experts, professionals, scholars, researchers, and research students from different institutions, sectors, and countries for an extensive exploration of topics relating to maritime and aviation economics, policy, and management.

I would like to invite you to join us at IFSPA 2019, to be held on 20 to 24 May, and look forward to welcoming you in Hong Kong.

Ir Prof. T.C. Edwin Cheng

Dean, Faculty of Business

Fung Yiu King – Wing Hang Bank Professor in Business Administration

Chair Professor of Management

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Welcome Message from the Head of the Department Logistics and Maritime Studies,

Prof. Andy C. L. Yeung

The International Conference on Shipping, Ports and Airports (IFSPA) has been a significant event for the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Indeed, the history of this important event was dated back to 10 years ago when we continued to stress the significance of maritime research and education to the Hong Kong community, and to the world as a whole. Throughout the years, IFSPA has been one of the icons of the department, and a major event in maritime and transportation research community. Each year, top scholars in this area around the world gather in Hong Kong to discuss the latest research developments and significant events of interests in this field.

This year, the theme of the Conference is “Beyond Breakthroughs, Above Excellence”, which reflects the need for us to strive for excellence continuously. In fact, the theme also reflects what we want ourselves to be. As researchers we can never be complacent for any research we have already done. The technology and the methodology in research are fast-changing, so as the maritime and transport industries. I am sure we will have much to learn every year in this important event.

Let me welcome all the participants for coming over to the IFSPA, and we wish you all a fruitful event and wish you well in your never-ending research journeys!

Prof. Andy C. L. Yeung

Head, Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies

Chair Professor of Operations Management

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Welcome Message from the Chairs

Dear colleagues and guests,

On behalf of the organizing committee, it is our great pleasure to warmly invite you to attend the 10^th International Forum on Shipping, Ports and Airports (IFSPA) hosted by the C. Y. Tung International Centre for Maritime Studies, Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The conference will be held on 20-24 May, 2019 (Monday to Friday) in Hong Kong.

The conference theme in 2019 is "Beyond Breakthroughs, above Excellence." The conference plays a general platform and will bring together, interdisciplinary groups of practitioners, academics, researchers, and research students from all over the world to share and exchange break-through ideas relating to the theory and practice in the shipping and transport logistics sectors. This will highlight the rich diversity of approaches and initiatives to understanding new challenges and opportunities of current economic and operations issues, as well as advocating the development of innovation proficiency and technologies to foster global competitiveness and sustainable benefits. It promotes the quality research in general, selected papers will be recommended for publication in the Special Issues of Maritime Business Review (MABR) journal and other journals.

As an Asia’s world city, Hong Kong is the largest air cargo hub and the 5th busiest container sea port in the world. Its role is particularly critical on the East-West trade route and as a gateway to the Mainland China. With a strong pool of experienced professionals, researchers and operators in Hong Kong, we are confident that you will enjoy a pleasure and fruitful conference here. Your participation and presence will enrich professional knowledge exchange, insights and provide useful strategies and resolutions for industries.   

We look forward to welcoming you in Hong Kong in May 2019.

Conference Chair  Prof. Chin-Shan Lu	Co-chair  Dr Stephen Y.K. Li	Co-chair  Dr Dong Yang	Co-chair  Dr T. L. Yip