World Trade - March 2009 - (Page 14) TRADEWINDS The assistance is aimed at helping the country’s key industries weather a domestic economic downturn and weakening global demand. The government has already announced support measures for the auto, steel, textile, shipbuilding, and information technology sectors, offering a mix of tax breaks and funding while also prodding firms to consolidate and restructure. Meanwhile, the South African government has announced a rescue plan to help “vulnerable” industries and stem job losses in the country, according to an official document released on February 20. Specifically, the government has identified mining, automobile, clothing, footwear, textile, retail, housing construction, and manufacturing as those industries that are in the most critical shape. The rescue plan will include “a combination of trade, industrial and social policy measures” as well as inputs from the private sector. Names & News Port Metro Vancouver Taps Silvester Port Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, has tapped Robin Silvester as president and chief executive. He succeeds Gordon Houston, who is retiring as head of Canada’s busiest ocean trade gateway on March 31. Silvester previously worked as chief development officer with the former P&O Ports, and in 2003 became the first president of P&O Ports Canada in Vancouver. MARK YOUR Calendar Battles Named by Houston Port Authority The Houston Port Commission has named Wade M. Battles as the interim executive director of the Houston Port Authority. Battles will serve as port chief while the commission conducts a search for a permanent replacement for H. Thomas Kornegay, who retired in January. SCOPE East Orlando, Florida Apr 1-3 www.scopeeast.com TIA Annual Convention & Trade Show San Antonio, Texas Apr 1-4 www.tianet.org WERC Annual Conference 2009 Atlanta, Georgia Apr 26-29 www.werc.org 2009 NASSTRAC Logistics Conference and Exhibition Orlando, Florida Apr 26-29 www.nasstrac.org transport logistic 2009 Munich, Germany May 12-15 www.transportlogistic.de/ en/home Daher New Chairman for Port of Marseilles-Fos The Port of Marseilles-Fos has chosen Patrick Daher as its new chairman. Daher will lead the new 17-member supervisory board formed after the implementation of port reform legislation in 2008 requiring the transfer of cargo handling to the private sector. NYKCool’s Jansson Retiring Mats Jansson, chief executive of NYKCool, will retire after 15 years in the post as of March 31. The carrier of refrigerated and temperature-sensitive ocean cargo said Boris Gersling will take over as CEO, effective April 1. Japan to Impose $107 Million Fine on Cargo Cartel NIPPON EXPRESS, RIVALS TARGETED Japan’s Fair Trade Commission has warned Nippon Express and its competitors in the logistics and distribution industry that it plans to impose a fine totaling about 10 billion yen ($107 million) for a price cartel on international air cargo services, according to the Kyodo news agency. About a dozen companies notified by the FTC of the penalty also included Kintetsu World Express and Yusen Air & Sea Service Co. Ltd. The Japanese watchdog agency asserts that the companies had formed a price cartel and passed on fuel surcharges and airport security charges 14 WORLD TRADE MARCH 2009 to international air cargo fees between 2004 and 2007. Pakistan, Jordan Agree to Free Trade Pact DEAL WOULD STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC AND TRADE TIES Pakistan and Jordan have agreed to sign a free trade pact designed to deepen their existing economic and trade relations. A Pakistan delegation will visit Jordan in March to formally start negotiations on the agreement. In the meantime, the two countries are moving ahead to strengthen ties in other areas, particularly the defense and business sectors. New Outsourcing Hot Spots: Belfast and Brisbane CREDIT CRUNCH DRIVING QUEST FOR ALTERNATIVES A new study by consultancy KPMG has identified an eclectic mix of 31 cities ranging from Australia and Ireland to areas in South America and Africa as the new hot spots for outsourcing. Belfast is one city on the list and was chosen for its strong schools and universities, young population, high number of IT graduates, and cheap operating costs, while Brisbane has a large talent pool, a multilingual workforce, and employee costs that are 10 to 15 per cent cheaper than other Australian cities. World Trade Magazine will be publishing announcements of forthcoming global supply chain events in every issue. For inclusion, please forward event details to laras@ worldtrademag.com According to Shamus Rae, advisory partner at KPMG in the UK, the credit crunch will drive more companies to outsource IT and business processes, which will in turn hasten the search for new cities to host these services. The report also found that the new cities in Asia-Pacific offer lower costs, younger populations, and government http://www.scopeeast.com http://www.tianet.org http://www.werc.org http://www.nasstrac.org http://www.transportlogistic.de/en/home http://www.transportlogistic.de/en/home
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