HOUSTON, March 2, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) --
WHAT: Business forum and ceremony marking the signing
of a memorandum of understanding between Port of
Houston Authority International Corporation (POHAIC)
and the Port Authority of Dalian, China.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 3, 2004
9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Inter-Continental Hotel
2222 West Loop South
Houston, Texas
WHO: Cheryl Thompson-Draper, POHAIC Director
Wade M. Battles, Managing Director, Port of Houston
Authority
The Honorable Xing Liangzhong, Deputy Mayor, City
of Dalian, China
Delegation of Dalian municipal government officials
Delegation of City of Houston government officials
WHY: POHAIC will assist the Port Authority of Dalian in
the development and implementation of marine terminal
management and operational method training programs,
trade development and marketing programs, and technical
plans for the design, construction and operation of
expanded facilities.
The Port of Houston Authority International Corporation offers administrative, business development, and operations expertise to port authorities, terminal operators, engineering firms, and construction companies worldwide in the pursuit of operational, commercial, and financial development of ports.
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 6,000 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and sixth largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com