Ports play a vital role in global trade and national economic development. They serve as gateways for international commerce, facilitate industrial growth, and generate employment, making them indispensable to the economic and social development of nations. In the Asia-Pacific region, where more than half of global seaborne trade originates or is destined, ports are even more crucial as lifelines for regional trade, connectivity, and sustainable development.
With recent advances in digital technologies and innovation, ports are transforming into more sustainable, safe, and environmentally friendly hubs. However, these advancements have largely benefited major ports in developed countries, while many small ports across the Asia-Pacific region continue to face challenges in accessing the benefits of digitalization and disaster-response technologies.
To help close this gap, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) launched in 2024 a new capacity-building project titled “Bridging the Digitalization and Resilience Gap in Small Ports in the Asia-Pacific Region.” Supported by the Korea Ports and Harbours Association (KPHA) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, the initiative aims to strengthen the use of digital technologies and enhance disaster resilience in small ports, particularly those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
As part of this effort, ESCAP convened the first Capacity-Building Workshop in Busan, Republic of Korea, in December 2024. Building on the outcomes of that event, the Transport Division of ESCAP is pleased to announce the second Capacity-Building Workshop on Port Digitalization and the Resilience of Small Ports in the Asia-Pacific Region, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 3–4 December 2025, in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, KPHA and the Korean Maritime Institute (KMI)
This follow-up workshop will further support member States in advancing small port digitalization and strengthening resilience against climate change. It will feature presentations of key case studies, interactive discussions, and forward-looking strategies for regional cooperation. The event will be organized in a hybrid format, bringing together experts from relevant organizations, as well as national and international specialists in port digitalization and resilience.
Invited participants kindly register by Friday, 28 November 2025 at https://indico.un.org/e/CWBPort2025. Registered participants will receive the updated programme and the online meeting link in due course.
For further information, please contact: Mr. Sooyeob Kim, Transport Division, ESCAP, Email: kim105@un.org
