Hong Kong, October 11  - The TOC Asia Conference & Exhibition returns to Hong Kong in 2012 with a new name and expanded focus on logistics and transport for Asia’s regional and global container supply chains. Taking place 13-15 March at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, TOC Container Supply Chain: Asia retains its well-regarded topical focus on the evolution of container trade, shipping, ports and landside logistics across Asia Pacific, but with an added dimension for - and from - the producers and retailers whose cargo actually fills those boxes, ships, ports and terminals.

TOC Container Supply Chain is now being rolled out across the global TOC Events portfolio, with a mission to facilitate dialogue between cargo owners, logistics providers, shipping, transport and port operators as to what the future could, and should, look like - and how all parties can work better together to rise to the undoubted challenges.

Those challenges encompass not only the quest for more efficient, predictable and cost-effective container flows from origin to destination, but simultaneously how to reduce the environmental and social impact of today’s large and growing container trade volumes. Inevitably, the 2012 event will also reflect on the currently precarious state of the global economy and ramifications for Asia shippers, logistics and transport providers as events unfold over the rest of this year and early next. 

“Hong Kong’s role as a major shipping and logistics hub is evolving and the whole community has to adapt to meet changing demands. TOC Container Supply Chain: Asia will provide a forum for the whole industry to discuss how we can better collaborate at this critical time,” said Sunny Ho, Secretary of the Hong Kong Shippers Council.

Hong Kong on its own remains the third largest container port in the world and as part of the Greater Pearl River Delta lies at the heart of the world’s greatest container port cluster, with a combined throughput of 46 million TEU in 2010. Not only has the Greater PRD played a pivotal role in the dynamic growth of the world’s major east-west trade lanes, it is also set to be a focal point of perhaps the most significant trade development of the coming decade and a key topic of debate at TOC CSC 2012: Intra-Asia.

“With Intra-Asia trade volumes now tipped to overtake Asia-Europe and Asia-North America, improving pan-Asian transport connectivity and logistics efficiencies are vital to sustaining the region’s continued trade growth,” said Conference Editor Neil Madden. “Given Asia’s status as the bright spot in the world economy, intra-Asia container supply chain performance is also increasingly a matter of global, as well as regional, significance.”

“As home to the regional headquarters of the world’s top shipping lines and 3PLs, Hong Kong is the perfect place to meet customers, network partners and suppliers,” said Paul Holloway, TOC Event Director. “We’re delighted to bring TOC Container Supply Chain: Asia to this pivotal maritime business hub with an exciting new programme that brings all of container supply chain stakeholders together to discuss the road ahead for Asia.”