Official Opening and Welcome

• José Perez-Jones, Chairman, World Trade Center Miami and Senior Vice President, Seaboard Marine Ltd.
• Bill Johnson, Director, Dante B. Fascell, Port of Miami-Dade
  
  Call to Order/Moderator
• Bill Johnson, Chairman, SeaCargo Americas

Trade Growth in the Americas: Impact of Congressional Decisions on U.S /Free Trade Agreements

Speaker: William G. Muntean, Trade Policy Officer – South America Bilateral Trade Policy and Programs, Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, U.S. Department of State

As the responsible officer for all bilateral trade issues with South America, our speaker will provide firsthand knowledge and his perspective on what is next for free trade initiatives and agreements in the United States, and the potential impact on the growth of the hemisphere’s international trade flows. Mr. Muntean will update the audience on the status of the pending free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia and Panama. Also, he will discuss the implementation of the Chile Free Trade Agreement as well as U.S. trade issues with Mercosur and its constituent countries.

Speed Networking (coffee and refreshments)

Sponsors: Port Everglades and Zim American Integrated Services

Networking Coordinator: Andria C. Muniz, Public Relations Manager, Maritime Services, Port of Miami

10:45 a.m.-
12:30 p.m.

State-of-the-Sea Cargo Industry in the Western Hemisphere: “Managing Change and Excelling in the Marketplace”

The Chief Executive Officers and Senior Vice Presidents for Cargo of the most successful sea cargo shipping lines and related industries will present their visions, strategies and forecasts for the growth of the sea cargo industry. They will respond to the following questions:

• What is the biggest challenge facing your company in the next six months?
• What issues are affecting or may impact the growth of trade in this hemisphere – positive or negative?
• What new dynamics will result from the passage and implementation of CAFTA and pending bi-lateral agreements (i.e. new capacities, constraints, etc.)?
• What countries and product segments should have the greatest growth potential over the next two years?

Roundtable #1: Expediting Trade: Critical Balance between Assuring Security and Facilitating Trade

Senior regulatory officials will comment on the improvements and shortcomings they believe must be addressed by individual shippers, forwarders and brokers to expedite the transportation of products while assuring that all security requirements are met. The speakers will specifically address issues critical to resolving problems to create operational efficiencies.

Moderator: Captain James Maes, Assistant Port Director of Safety and Security, Port of Miami

Speakers:

• Capt. Suzanne Engelbert, Chief Prevention Division, 7th Coast Guard District
• Jose S. Ramirez, Port Director, Miami Seaport, Miami Field Office
  

Roundtable #2: Update on Security and Other Supply Chain Challenges at Key Hemispheric Ports: Puerto Cortes, Haiti, Kingston

The port directors of several of the most important ports in the Americas will update the audience on the latest actions they have taken to improve the security of their ports and to improve the efficiencies of the services they provide. Other panelists will discuss a Security Director’s view of the challenges to achieve compliance with the ISPS Code and MTSA standards and performance.

Moderator: Ronald J. Thomason, Assistant Vice President Maritime TranSystems/Secure

Speakers:

• Edwin Araque B., General Manager, Empresa Nacional Portuaria, Puerto Cortes
• Superintendent James Forbes, Vice President of Security, Port Authority of Jamaica
• Hughes Desgranges, Authorite Portuaire Nationale, Haiti
• Everton Walters, Chairman, Port Managers Association of the Caribbean
• Francis Forbes, Special Advisor to the Secretary General, CARICOM Ministerial Subcommittee on Resource Mobilization for Crime & Security

Colombia’s Virtual Container Security Initiative: A Case Study

Moderator/Speaker: Sam Banks, Executive Vice President, Global Modernization and Development, Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services

Speaker: Capt. Juan Carlos Acosta, Director Engineering & Planning, Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena – Contecar Container Terminals

Among Latin American ports, Colombia has excelled in developing innovative responses to U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements. Sam Banks, a former Commissioner of U.S. Customs, and Capt. Acosta will discuss how they worked together to implement a virtual CSI program at the Cartagena port which expedited the transportation of containers outbound for the U.S. Through its special initiative, the Port of Cartagena was able to gain approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection for its innovative virtual CSI program.

Speed Networking (coffee and refreshments)

Sponsor: SeaFreight Agencies

Networking Coordinator: Andria C. Muniz

Shipper’s View of the SeaCargo Industry in the Americas

Leading executives of world-class shippers will discuss the dynamics that must occur between shippers, maritime companies and customers to ensure that products are transported on a timely and quality basis. Speakers will address the integration of logistics chains from the perspective of shippers, freight forwarders and sea cargo companies. Also, they will identify the best strategies to overcome shipping impediments and inefficiencies and to reduce costs for shippers/forwarders.

Moderator: John Abisch, President, Econocaribe Consolidators

Speakers:

• Ward Chaplin, Logistics, Southern Wine & Spirits
• Luis Olarte, Vice President, Goya Foods

Luncheon
Topic: The SAFE Ports Act – 10 + 2 Equals More Than Just 12
Learn about the new filing requirements and how they will impact the global supply chain.

Speaker: Curtis Spencer, President, IMS Worldwide Inc.

The SAFE Ports Act of 2006 created several new Homeland Security Initiatives that will dramatically impact the global supply chain, specifically for the maritime industry. One of the most significant impacts will be the requirement for Advance Data Submission (the secure filing, or 10+2 filing) which will alter the way goods are shipped to the USA. An in-depth discussion on this issue will be presented (i.e. current status of 10+2, how it will work, and what we can expect).

Concurrent Roundtables

Roundtable #3: Upcoming Trade Opportunities with Cuba
Moderator: Manuel Almira, Asst. Director for Business Development, Port Everglades

The speakers will discuss the development of additional trade resulting from a post-Castro Cuba.

Speakers:

• John Price, President, InfoAmericas
• Jay Brickman, Vice President, Crowley Liner Services
  

Roundtable #4: Sister Ports Programs Workshop: Developing a Port Security Professionals Program in the Americas

Moderator: Stephen Bell, General Manager, Caribbean Shipping Association

The final workshop will be a moderated workshop to discuss the components needed to create a viable, interactive program for sister port security professionals. Topics of discussion will include:

• Interest of ports to consult with other ports on training, drills & exercises;
• Donation and sale of excess security property; and
• Establishing a purchasing consortium for security equipment.