Public-Private Partnerships as an instrument for an efficient maritime-port management in the Latin American and Caribbean region


November 16, 2022
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Background

Maritime transport is the backbone of international trade, accounting for approximately 80% of the volume and 70% of the total value of internationally traded goods (UNCTAD, 2020). In order to improve the efficiency of the port sector and facilitate the participation of the private sector, the development that the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model is acquiring during the last decade in Latin America, together with the need to generate knowledge in the area, generates an inevitable benefit.

Thus, PPPs are promoted worldwide as the solution for States to meet their infrastructure and public services needs with the participation of the private sector (CAF, 2018). The Latin American and Caribbean region has been no stranger to the implementation of this scheme, becoming in recent years a leader in PPPs with respect to the rest of the developing regions, introducing PPPs as an efficient model in the adoption of new trends and solution to infrastructure and operational needs, given the current post-pandemic COVID-19 challenges in port management. In this regard, the implementation of PPPs allows port authorities to continue as owners and the private sector to take over operations.

The maritime industry in Latin America and the Caribbean has distinctive characteristics. According to a survey conducted by ECLAC (2022), 317 companies were found to be active in January of that year, 7.3% of which were state-owned and 92.7% were private companies. On the other hand, according to IDB estimates (2020), PPPs currently constitute the norm for containerized and multipurpose cargo port terminals. Ninety-two percent of the region's TEUs move to and from PPP ports, which account for 83% of the region's container terminals. The data show that private sector participation and competition are correlated with better levels of operational and economic performance, as well as ports in a better state of maintenance.

Changes, adjustments and innovations in the development of PPP projects and programmes have been and continue to be a constant, not only in the region, but throughout the world. Given this scenario, it is important to identify which innovations are currently being implemented to promote their development and to take advantage of opportunities in the maritime-port sector.

Assertive identification, structuring, tendering and implementation of the PPP scheme is essential to ensure high standards of return on assets as well as quality service delivery. The role of the public and private sectors in assisting, financing and mobilising resources will consolidate the successful materialisation of the investment.

In this connection, this webinar will focus on generating a space for debate and dialogue on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme in the maritime-port sector in the Latin American and Caribbean region, in addition to exposing the benefits and limitations of PPPs, together with the operational analysis and legal aspects of their implementation, in order to provide an exchange of lessons learned and knowledge on best practices and operationality among stakeholders, making effective use of PPPs as an instrument for an efficient maritime-port management in the region.

Event Information

The Webinar: Public-Private Partnerships as an instrument for an efficient maritime-port management in the Latin American and Caribbean region is organised by the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), in collaboration with:

Dates: November 16, 2022
Time:   10:00 a.m.– 02:00 p.m. (4 hrs.)
Duration: 4 horas.
Registration: https://bit.ly/3SsxeWZ

Objectives
  • Generate a space for debate and dialogue on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme in the maritime-port sector in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
  • Expose the benefits and limitations of PPPs, together with the operational analysis and legal aspects of their implementation.
  • Provide an exchange of lessons learned and knowledge on best practices and operability among stakeholders, making effective use of PPPs as an instrument for an efficient
    maritime-port management in the region.
Target Audience

The Webinar is aimed at representatives of the member countries of SELA in charge of the administration, development and/or management of ports in their respective countries; professionals who make up the Latin American logistics port sector, both from the business and institutional spheres, university students, entrepreneurs and start-ups that are attracted by the business opportunities offered by the port sector.

Contacts

The Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA):

Latin American and Caribbean Economic System - Economic Recovery:

E-mail: recuperacion_economica@sela.org

With copy to:

 

The University of Trinidad and Tobago:

Agenda

November 16th 2022

10:00 – 10:15

OPENING:

  • WELCOME ADDRESS: Professor Clement Imbert- Chairman of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (5 min)
  • OPENING REMARKS:  Ambassador Clarems Endara- Permanent Secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) (5 min)
  • FEATURE SPEAKER: Honourable Rohan Sinanan- Minister of Works and Transport, Government of Trinidad and Tobago (5 min)
10:15 – 11:00

SESSION I – THE CHANGING ROLE OF PUBLIC POLICY IN A DYNAMIC PORTS AND SHIPPING MARITIME ENVIRONMENT (60 min)

Moderator: Mr. Adrian Beharry-Assistant Professor, Maritime Economics, Centre for Maritime and Ocean Studies, The University of Trinidad and Tobago (5 min)

  • The Work of Multilateral Institutions in Port Development
    Mr. Fausto Arroyo – Executive Director of Physical Infrastructure and Digital Transformation, CAF-Development Bank of Latin America (15 min)
  • Major Challenges to Port Development in the LAC Region- The Case of Colombia
    Dr. Gordon Wilmsmeier, Kühne Professorial Chair in Logistics, La Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia (15 min)

 Panel Discussion and Q and A (10 min)

11:00 – 12:00

SESSION II- ASSESSING THE SUITABILITY OF PORTS FOR THE PPP MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT (60 min)

Moderator: José Miguel Rovira, Programme Coordinator, SELA (5 min)

  • A Review of Selected PPP Port Development Projects- The Case of Africa
    Frank Luisman -     Maritime and Transport Business Solutions (15 min)
  • Privatization and the Lease and Concession Model of Port Development- The Case of Panama
    Mr. Eduardo Lugo -     Managing Director, Maritime and Logistics Consulting (15 min)
  • Port Authority Strategies the EU- The Greece Experience with the PPP model
    Thanos Pallis, Professor, Maritime Economics, The University of Athens (15 min)  

 Panel Discussion and Q and A (10 min)
12:00 – 13:00

SESSION III
LINKING OBJECTIVES TO OUTCOMES: ASSESSING AND EVALUATING SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES IN THE PPP PROCESS (60 min)

Moderator: Mr. Darwin Telemaque– Chairman, Port Management Association of the Caribbean (5 min)

  • Financial Aspects of PPP Projects in the Caribbean Region
    Arturo Bujanda    , Bujanda and Allen Infrastructure Advisors (15 min)
  • A Review of Some Key Steps in the PPP Implementation Process
    Adrian Beharry- Assistant Professor of Practice (Centre for Maritime & Ocean Studies), The University of Trinidad and Tobago (15 min)
  • Integration of Logistics and Special Economic Zones to Port Development under the PPP model.
    Dr Paul Kent- Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Ports and Logistics, Monument Economics Group (15 min)

Panel Discussion and Q and A (10 min)
13:00 – 13:45

SESSION IV – LEGAL ASPECTS OF PPP CONTRACTS IN THE PORT SECTOR (45 min)

Moderator: Mrs Vivian Rambarath-Parasram- Assistant Professor and Programme Leader, Maritime Studies, Centre for Maritime and Ocean Studies, The University of Trinidad and Tobago (5 min) 

  • A Review of the Legal Aspects of PPP contracts in the Caribbean Port Sector
    Dr. Carrol J. Pickersgill    , Head of Legal Department, Port Authority of Jamaica (15 min) 
  • Incomplete Contracts and Opportunistic Renegotiation of PPP Contracts
    Dr. Ricardo Sanchez    , The Caribbean Research Institute (CRI/CSA) (15 min)

 Panel Discussion and Q and A (10 min)
13:45 – 14:00

CLOSING REMARKS (10 min)

  • Ambassador Clarems Endara, Permanent Secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) (5 min)
  • Mr. Adrian Beharry, Assistant Professor of Practice (Centre for Maritime & Ocean Studies), University of Trinidad and Tobago (5 min)
References

IDB - Inter-American Development Bank (August 2022). “Lecciones que deja una historia de éxito: operadores de puertos privados en América Latina y el Caribe”. Source:  https://www.idbinvest.org/es/blog/transporte/lecciones-que-deja-una-historia-de-exito-operadores-de-puertos-privados-en-america

CAF–development bank of Latin America (July 2018). “ASOCIACIÓN PÚBLICO-PRIVADA EN AMÉRICA LATINA Afrontando el reto de conectar y mejorar las ciudades”. Source: https://scioteca.caf.com/bitstream/handle/123456789/1376/Asociacion_Publico-Privada_en_America_Latina._Afrontando_el_reto_de_conectar_y_mejorar_las_ciudades.pdf

ECLAC - Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (May 2022). “La industria naviera de América Latina y el Caribe en el contexto internacional”. Source: https://www.cepal.org/sites/default/files/news/files/la_industria_naviera_de_america_latina_y_el_caribe_en_el_contexto_internacional.pdf

UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (November 2020). “Informe sobre el Transporte Marítimo 2020 de la UNCTAD: resumen y estimaciones sobre América Latina y el Caribe”. Source: https://unctad.org/es/press-material/informe-sobre-el-transporte-maritimo-2020-de-la-unctad-resumen-y-estimaciones-sobre