An effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic has been the meteoric rise in online consumerism, with many US shoppers switching from physically rushing out to the stores, shifting their spend to online browsing and purchasing, with online spending expected to be further extended in the future.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]Speaking exclusively to Container News Dr Noel Hacegaba, deputy executive director/COO at the Port of Long Beach, California, said that the port would consider establishing free trade zones closer to the consumer, and in regions outside of the port, in an effort to meet the changes in the market that were already in train but have been accelerated by the pandemic.
According to Dr Hacegaba “We already employ foreign trade zones as tools to attract more cargo and I absolutely believe that will continue to be a tool in the years ahead.”
Aside from this futuristic view, Dr Hacegaba reviews 2020 and the challenges faced by the industry in general and the US West Coast ports in particular, looks ahead to working with the new Democratic administration from 20 January and responds to criticisms on the handling of the pandemic and the critical failures of the industry to meet the challenges that arose from the pandemic.
You can listen to the full One-to-One interview with Dr Noel Hacegaba by clicking on the link that will take you to the Container News You Tube Channel.[/s2If]
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