The UK Major Ports Group (“UKMPG”), has launched a 5-point plan to build on the success story that is UK ports sector.
The plan calls for policies that will:
- Ensure the UK has a major ports sector than can continue to thrive in a changing world
- Promote connectivity that boosts trade, productivity and sustainability
- Create a positive planning and development framework to boost investment and jobs
- Deliver a balanced environmental approach that delivers both sustainability and growth
- Makes sure the UK is well placed as a location to develop the ports of the future
UKPMG represents the global gateway ports for 75% of the UK’s seaborne trade, and the plan was launched at its Annual Parliamentary reception.
The plan describes the vital contribution to the UK’s major ports make to the UK today, both as UK’s predominant gateways to the world – with 95% of the UK’s physical trade arriving or departing by sea – and as vital drivers of prosperity and opportunity in coastal communities all around the UK. UKMPG members invest more than half a billion pounds in the UK every year and are ambitious to grow their activities and investment.
Charles Hammond, UKMPG Chair and Chief Executive of Forth Ports, commented:
“This is the time for ports. The current focus on Brexit and the UK’s trade with the world has shone a light on ports and their importance to the U.K. And it’s not just the current context. The ports sector is on the cusp of major technological change to radically transform the business models of major ports and many of our customers and supply chain partners. So, it’s never been a more important or exciting time to be in the ports sector.
“The members of the U.K. Major Ports Group are ambitious to invest more in the U.K. and grow the £7.6bn of value we directly contribute to the U.K. as well as the vital enabling role facilitating trade we provide for the rest of the economy. That’s best achieved by industry and government working together and today’s 5-point plan identifies the key areas where that needs to happen.”
