#IRISHportsConference - As previously reported the 2013 Irish Ports Association (IPA) Conference on 27 September in Dublin is to be hosted by Dublin Port Company.

The annual event precedes the UK's British Ports Association which takes place next month.

This year, the IPA conference is to be held in the Gibson Hotel, Dublin which is close to The O2 Arena located within the 'Docklands' quarter that borders the port estate.

The conference will see the launching of the new National Ports Policy. In addition the conclusion by the Irish Competition Authority of a review of the ports sector and the publication by the EU Commission of a proposed ports Regulation. All of these create challenges for Irish ports whose efficiency and capacity is crucial to support international trade in goods.

Core themes of the IPA conference are ports policy, practice and planning. An elite panel of national and international speakers will not only examine recent policy developments but also to present examples from around the world (UK, Denmark, Greece and Chile) as to how ports elsewhere have adapted and responded to changing regulatory environments.

For further information on the conference, programme and bookings visit: ipadublin2013.com

The Irish Ports Association will hold the annual conference for the industry on Friday, 24 September. The venue is Thomond Park Conference Centre, Limerick and the theme is 'Ports Policy for an export led recovery'.

For further details and enquiries contact Evelyn or Carmel at Shannon Foynes Port Company at Tel: 00 353 (0)69 731 00, Fax: 353 (0)69 731 38 or Email:  [email protected]

In addition a PDF for the conference can be downloaded from the port company website www.sfpc.ie