14th Busan International Port Conference to Be Held for Two Days Starting on the 15th

[Financial News] Busan Port Authority (BPA) announced on the 8th that it will hold the 14th Busan International Port Conference (BIPC 2026) for two days starting on the 15th at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center (BPEX), under the theme “From Plans to Action: Innovation Leading the Era of Change.”
This year’s BIPC will be held to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Busan. A record number of CEOs from major ports around the world are expected to attend, including the three largest container ports in Europe and the Port of Los Angeles, the largest container port in the United States.
Senior officials from major international organizations, including the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will also participate as speakers, moderators, and panelists.
In particular, the “Port CEO Roundtable,” bringing together CEOs of major ports worldwide, will be held for the first time on the day before the opening. Participants will discuss common challenges facing global ports and possible responses amid rapidly changing logistics conditions. They plan to announce the “Busan Port Declaration,” which will express their commitment to action through innovation and solidarity.
A special session co-hosted with IAPH and ADB will also be held for the first time this year. Ports around the world and international organizations will share their experiences and policy directions on key issues and explore ways to turn the discussions into practical cooperation.
The main event will cover a wide range of topics, including uncertainty in the global shipping market, decarbonization, artificial intelligence (AI), port safety, and Arctic routes. On the first day, discussions will focus on container shipping’s resilience in an era of volatility, new horizons for port decarbonization, and AI beyond digital transformation. The second day will address field-oriented port safety management and navigating toward the future of Arctic routes.
BPA President Song Sang-geun said, “If the past 150 years of the Port of Busan were a journey of growth through connecting with the world, the next 150 years will be a journey of realizing innovation and solidarity together with ports around the world.” He added, “We will make this year’s BIPC not an event that ends with a declaration, but a starting point that leads to concrete cooperation and action.”

[email protected] Baek Chang-hoon Reporter