The 2022 ALMAC in Hong Kong explores how collaboration and innovation can see us through uncertain times.

Written by Henrik Batallones

 

The twelfth edition of the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference, held last November 22-23 at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre, explored how supply chain players from across the region can better embrace opportunities to collaborate and innovate to address ongoing long-term issues exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

The event, with the theme “The Future of the Sustainable Supply Chain: Connectivity, Collaboration, Innovation”, saw over 14,000 delegates both physically and virtually, representing over 50 countries and territories. It was once again co-organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong SAR government, with SCMAP acting as a supporting organization.

The conference’s speakers were led by Zhang Xiangchen, deputy director general of the World Trade Organization. In his remarks, he discussed how governments, businesses and other stakeholders around the world can come together to address supply chain disruption.

“Challenges and opportunities are the two sides of the same coin,” he said. “To address common challenges in global supply chains, we will rely on connectivity, collaboration and innovation.”

The conference’s keynote session covered just some of these challenges—some immediate, like economic recovery after almost three years of the COVID-19 pandemic; others more long-term, like the continued embrace of technology and the demand for more sustainable supply chains. The panelists agreed that it is important to have a better grasp of data being generated by our supply chains and present them to customers.

“The new norm is uncertainty and unpredictability,” Ludovic Renou, chief executive officer of CMA CGM China, said. “Everyone will need to leverage data. Those who will be able to sort out data in a smarter way at the right speed will be able to provide the right set of information to customers.”

The emergence of new technologies like artificial intelligence—and its clearer impact on our supply chain operations—is also something stakeholders have to grapple with. “Whether it is providers or carriers, technology [is replacing] humans being bit by bit,” Mathieu Renard Biron, managing director of global freight forwarding for Kerry Logistics, said. “We have to ask ourselves where our value will be. For customers, it will be visibility, simplicity and contact to people, not to a machine … we have to rethink our industry.”

Wilkie Wong, chief financial officer of the Esquel Group, stressed the need for integration between different departments. “How can the integration between manufacturing, logistics and sales come together in order to provide faster delivery and a better customer experience—and, at the same time, lower inventory for the supply chain?” he asked.

For its part, Hong Kong continues to position itself as a major logistics hub connecting China with the rest of the world. Lam Sai-hung, Hong Kong’s secretary for transport and logistics, said that the city continues to enjoy the benefits of strong support from the central Chinese government and strong ties to other major economies. He also believes that, with the RCEP in place, and with the clear directions set by the National 14th Five-Year Plan and ongoing Greater Bay Area initiatives, Hong Kong will continue to play a greater role in strengthening logistics in the region.


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