Representatives from IAPH and the association’s media and events partner Mercator Media visited the Port of Kobe – the host for the 2025 edition of the World Ports Conference. During the fact-finding visit, which took place July 10-11, IAPH managing director Patrick Verhoeven, director (technical committees) Takeshi Suzuki and business development director Nick Blackmore were joined by VP for Asia, South/West, East & Middle East Masaharu Shinohara and by Mercator Media chief executive Andrew Webster. The group visited and assessed several potential venues for the conference and evening receptions. Held in 7-9 October next year, #IAPH2025 will coincide with the association’s 70th Anniversary, and will also mark the 30th anniversary and recovery of the city since the Great Hanshin Earthquake which devastated many parts of Kobe, including the port. It was in Kobe that the first international negotiations were held in 1952 to establish the IAPH.
