World top 50 in sight as Zhuhai Port adds partners

Zhuhai Port Holdings Group struck 35 partnerships on Dec 26, leveraging cooperation as it helps Zhuhai Port to join the world's top 50 in five years.

The effort is in synergy with the company becoming an extraordinary, modern international port operator and key international port logistics center in South China, according to the 2017-21 Development Strategy of the company released during the signing ceremony.

By the end of 2021, the group expects to achieve total assets of 40 billion yuan ($6.1 billion) and anticipates operations revenue of 12 billion yuan ($1.8 billion), increased by a factor of 20 and 50 respectively compared with data recorded at the beginning of 2008.

By that time, handling capacity of Zhuhai Port (including Gaolan and Hongwan) and all ports under Zhuhai Port Holdings Group (including those in Yunfu of Guangdong and Wuzhou of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) is expected to exceed 200 million tons respectively, based on container throughput of more than 4 million TEUs for the former and 5 million TEUs for the latter. 

Zhuhai Port [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

Realization of the goals will rely on both the company's own strength and respective advantages of its partners.

Companies that signed strategic cooperation agreements with Zhuhai Port Holdings include Shanghai Panasia Shipping, a wholly owned subsidiary of COSCO Container Lines; Zhonggu Shipping Group, a mid-sized firm of deep-sea domestic freight transportation located in Shanghai; Antong Holdings, which is engaged in freight transportation and forwarding, warehousing, logistics, and shipping management; Yuexiu Transport Infrastructure, a firm specialized in investment, operation, and management of expressways and bridges across China; and Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town (OCT), a subsidy of State-owned OCT Group engaged in tourism, real estate, and paper packaging.

According to the agreement, expansion and development will focus on port shipping, logistics supply chains, energy resources and environmental protection, port town construction, and shipping finance. A target is to construct an open port eco-platform enjoying sustainable and sound development.

It can be envisioned that the company will grow into a first-class port logistics operator, domestically renowned integrated energy investment and service provider and operator, and the largest developer of port town support facilities on the west bank of the Pearl River Delta, according to board chairman Ou Huisheng.

Progress should be made through further internationalization and implementation of green and intelligent development strategies. Logistic centers will be mapped out especially in the region along the Xijiang River, Ou added.

Parties involved pledged close long-term ties through strengthened communication and cooperation to bring about mutual benefits and win-win results. New breakthroughs can be expected to expedite better development of the local real economy.