Gyeonggi Province hosted the 2nd Domestic Presentation of Pyeongtaek Port, which was participated in by members from the port and logistics industries, and followed the 1st Presentation made in 2006. The Presentation aimed to facilitate the use of Pyeongtaek Port and increase cargo volume, and more than 200 representatives of domestic and foreign shipping companies, consignors, and logistics companies participated in the event.

Governor Kim Moon-soo said, “As Pyeongtaek Port is located in a favorable position, adjacent to major Chinese cities and large Korean cities with production and consumer markets, and has a natural advantage in terms of its ability to dock large ships, its growth potential is limitless. By 2011, at which time the Port will have 51 berths, it will be an international trading port equipped with an excellent infrastructure. I ask shipping companies and consignors to use the Port actively.”

The representatives of logistics companies who were in attendance showed a high degree of interest in the presentations at the event, which included a briefing on plans for the development of Pyeongtaek Port and the status of port operation, which was made by Lee Byeong-ju, Director of Pyeongtaek Regional Maritime Affairs & Fisheries Office; a briefing on customs logistics service policies made by Cho Seo-ho, Director of Pyeongtaek Customs; a briefing on the strategy to support the development of Pyeongtaek Port by Yang Byeong-gwan, President of Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port Corporation; and these were followed by some presentations of successful investment and use of Pyeongtaek Port by businesses.

The first presentation was made by EUKOR Car Carrier, a world-leading automobile transportation shipping company. The company highlighted the geographic advantages of Pyeongtaek Port for export and import activities, and asked the Korean government to actively support the development of the Port into a hub of Northeast Asia.

The second presentation was given by Haewoo GLS, an air transportation company. A representative of Haewoo GLS explained how the company had reduced lead time and costs by leveraging the advantages of both marine transportation and land transportation. It explained that it reduced logistics costs in 2007 by KRW 50 billion, using Pyeongtaek Port for China-bound shipments instead of air transportation.

Gyeonggi Province announced various projects to stimulate the use of Pyeongtaek Port, including a port complex for logistics processing, the establishment of a marine center to provide one-stop services to port users, and expansion of the volume incentive system to attract larger cargo volumes. The province urged participants to give more interest and support in expanding the use of the Port.

Im Myeong-jin, General Manager of the Railroad and Harbors Department of Gyeonggi Province, said, “Of the domestic ports, Pyeongtaek Port shows the largest increase in cargo volume. We expect this domestic presentation will serve as an opportunity to grow Pyeongtaek Port into the central hub of area surrounding the Yellow Sea.”