An annual international forum on the maritime industry kicked off Thursday, organizers said, aiming to discuss the latest trends in the sector while addressing challenges for sustainable development.

The two-day Incheon International Ocean Forum 2024 will bring together related experts and business officials in Incheon, just west of Seoul, to share the latest trends and technologies in the sector, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

The forum is hosted by the oceans ministry and the Incheon metropolitan government, and organized by the Incheon Port Authority and South Korea’s key newswire, Yonhap News Agency.

Under the slogan, “The World Calls, the Ocean Waves,” participants will discuss the latest uncertainties in the global supply chain and the use of clean energy in ships. Other topics will include smart technologies at ports and climate-related issues.

The event also invited Jared Diamond, an American scholar known for his book “Guns, Germs, and Steel,” to deliver an online lecture on t
he past, present and future of the ocean.

“Global issues, including endless conflicts and the climate crisis, have become significant threats to the maritime industry,” Seong Ghi-hong, CEO and president of Yonhap News Agency, said during the ceremony. “However, as always, we will strive to establish a sustainable maritime economy.”

“We are committed to joining the journey to build a new future for our oceans,” he added.

“The external and internal environments are changing quickly in the wake of the fragmentation of the global economy, uncertainties in the supply chain, technological developments and the transition toward carbon neutrality,” Oceans Minister Kang Do-hyung also said in a congratulatory message.

“We hope that this forum will help the South Korean maritime industry address these uncertainties and establish future-oriented strategies,” Kang added. The message was read by Kim Sung-bum, the deputy minister for maritime policies, on behalf of the minister.

Source: Yonhap News Agency