Regional shipping conference spotlights trade opportunities with Cuba

Hundreds of delegates representing stakeholders in the Caribbean and Latin America shipping and logistics sector will gather in Cocoa Beach, Florida, in a few weeks with emerging maritime opportunities in Cuba at the forefront of their minds.

The delegates will be participating in the Caribbean Shipping Association's (CSA) 15th Caribbean Shipping Executives' Conference (CSEC), set for May 16-18 at the Hilton Hotel & Resorts in the quaint and eclectic Florida town.

CSEC 2016 is the most notable mid-year meeting of high-level shipping industry professionals in the Caribbean and Latin America. This year's conference promises engaging presentations on Cuba delivered by a line-up of high-profile speakers who are experts in their respective fields. These resource persons will provide key perspectives on maritime trade with the Spanish-speaking Caribbean territory in the wake of the easing of trade restrictions by the United States and the historic visit to that country by President Barack Obama. The impact of these trade movements on shipping and logistics in this hemisphere will be addressed by Cuban natives, including envoy Ruben Ramos Arrieta from the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Washington, and Dr Ricardo Torres, research economist from the University of Havana.

 

SERIES OF TOPICS

 

Conference participants will also gain insights into the laws of commerce regarding Cuba from invited speakers who are experts in international law. The pending implementation of the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) Solas weight requirements will be addressed by top officials from the IMO, while disaster management and climate adaptation specialists will provide updates on the 'greening' of the seas.

Conference delegates will probe a comprehensive series of topics which include:

- Cuba - The political and economic implications at national and regional levels

- The integration of Cuba into the regional economy and the present and future fole of the port of Mariel.

- The implementation of the Solas weight requirements.

- How does Cuba stand to influence the future shape of regional shipping?

- Disaster management and climate adaptation.

- Caribbean marine logistics - a cluster approach.

- The flip side of port automation - an efficient labour force.

The strategically located Port Canaveral will play host to the delegates, who will come from as far as Europe. Port Canaveral is focused on becoming an important cargo player, attracting vessels that can gain from their less-congested facilities and serves as a domestic/international feeder service to the Central Florida market.

To register and to find more information on this conference, please visit: http://www.caribbeanshipping.org/ or contact the secretariat at:

Caribbean Shipping Association

4 Fourth Avenue

Newport West

Kingston 13, Jamaica

T: (876) 675 4881/ (876) 901 9784

F: (876) 757 1592 Email:csa@cwjamaica.com

The CSA, the voice of the Caribbean shipping industry, was established in 1971 to facilitate development of an efficient, viable Caribbean shipping industry.

Conferences hosted by the CSA provide a forum in which matters relevant to the growth and development of Caribbean shipping are discussed.