Worldwide
Port of Corpus Christi to Host PPG’s 2009 Conference

Project Professionals Group will hold its second annual conference in Corpus Christi, July 29 – August 1, 2009. Members of PPG, with 120 member offices in 90 countries worldwide, agreed to the Texas venue following a vote at their inaugural conference held in Aarhus, Denmark. Port of Corpus Christi Executive Director Mr. John LaRue attended the 2008 Aarhus conference and provided an excellent overview of his organization’s capabilities in hosting a major international conference.

 · Confirmed 2009 sponsors include The Port of Corpus Christi (USA); TransProject LLC (USA); SmartWay Transport Partnership (USA); Beluga Chartering GmbH (Germany); Rickmers-Linie (AQmerica) Inc. (USA); Scan-Trans Inc. (USA); Sun Communications (Australia); Chipolbrok America, Inc. (USA); Sea-Concert Co., Ltd. (Thailand) ; Transportes De Los Santos Hijos S.A. De C.V. (Mexico); Quebec Stevedoring Company (Canada); Sinokor/Naver/YJC (Korea); Raonoke Trade Services, Inc. (USA); Sahil Freight Express (India). 		 portlogotagline.jpg 
 corpusport.jpg PPG group members were impressed with a detailed briefing regarding the growth of the Port of Corpus Christi (pictured left), and hotel and conference facilities in the area and members are looking forward to holding their conference for the first time in the United States which has attracted 110 attendees from 40 countries.
 mr._john_larue.jpg Mr. LaRue (pictured left) said the conference would be held in the Solomon Oritz International Center, a converted cotton warehouse with significant historical links to the port. “The Port of Corpus Christi is pleased to be hosting an international conference that brings together logistics solutions providers from around the world and the opportunity to extend Texas hospitality to these delegates and their partners,” Mr. LaRue said, adding, “an industry conference such as this also provides the opportunity to showcase the expertise and development of the port to an international audience.”
 ortizfacility.jpg The Port of Corpus Christi is strategically located in the Americas mid-way along the Texas coast on the Gulf of Mexico and had heavy lift capabilities that would be of interest to PPG members. Mr. LaRue said the conference agenda would be developed over the next few months but it was confirmed that the keynote address would be given by an official from Vestas, the world's largest windpower company(The Solomon P. Ortiz Conference facility is pictured left and below).
 ortiz.1.jpg The conference will also include presentations by major transport solution providers and project cargo experts, and a social program for delegates and partners to sample the region’s lifestyle. The Port of Corpus Christi, ranked sixth in US ports in terms of total tonnage, handled 445,204 tonnes of break bulk cargo in 2007.