On the occasion of the Day of Sea on May 31, the subject of logistics IT was highlighted in maritime circles. To boost port productivity and services to the level of advanced countries, MOMAF (The Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries) is proactively pursuing an port construction project utilizing ubiquitous IT technology, as well as introducing programs concerning the expansion of the deployment of port cargo handling equipment, and an improvement in the supply of port labor among a number of initiatives. Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Port Authority both consider that IT informatization is the key to port competitiveness. First off, MOMAF is engaged in a port building program that will make the most of ubiquitous IT technology to beef up competitiveness. Not the least, the Ministry is devoting a whole raft of efforts to attracting multinational logistics enterprises to the rear of Korean harbors to spur their conversion from the 'freight-relay' model to the 'cargo-creation' port model. MOMAF minister Oh Keo-don highlighted in a press release distributed on the occasion of the Day of Sea that the Ministry is doing its best to cut down user's logistical expenses with the improvement of port logistics information systems. As part of such strategies, the Ministry is working hard to build a ubiquitous IT port to allow a practical application of state-of-the-art RFID. An official responsible for this project at MOMAF said that the Ministry is placing emphasis on pursuing plans to create intelligent-model harbors in its efforts to enlarge overall national port capacity by September this year. The official adds that MOMAF will construct a single window to facilitate imports and export logistics, pointing out there have been requirements for logistics firms to make separate submissions to the same official bodies! MOMAF plans to commence a model service from the second half of the year by preparing an integrated computerization network as well as standardized formulas in concert with the Korea Customs Service (KCS). On top of that, MOMAF is putting the spurs to improving port productivity to the level of advanced countries via expansion of the use of cargo handling equipment such as container cranes. To this end, the Ministry is striving to put in place legal and policy support measures such as tax support to encourage investment by the private sector. Busan Metropolitan City to boost connection efficiencies Regarding Busan port's improvement in competitiveness, MOMAF is first of all aiming to complete the rear road and the rear railway of the Busan New Port by 2008. The Metropolitan City of Busan plans to construct a logistics site amounting to 310,000 pyung by 2008 to the north of the New Port. At the same time, the Metropolitan City plans to boost connection efficiencies between this "North Port" area and the New Port such as marine transportation support and overland freight retrenchment measures. Secondly, in regard to Kwangyang Port, MOMAF is working hard to construct its rear road as well as improve the local traffic network to boost its overall viability. Also to nurture itself as a cargo-creation model port, the Kwangyang port authority is pursing a project to enlarge the presence of the LME (London Metal Exchange) and so heighten the flow of freight that it generates. Last but not least, MOMAF also plans to upgrade overall port efficiency by first consolidating the system of bidding for port construction and also launching a strategic program to boost the sales of port services this year, under the judgment that the efficiency of port sales activities have been falling, since they tend to be sporadic in nature. MOMAF to begin strategic harbors port sales In the case of the Busan Metropolitan Government, the City is willing to give the maximum amount of assistance possible to nurture the IT industry because the City believes IT will be the core industry of the city as it holds huge potential for future growth. In particular, the region's IT industry policies are being focused on digital content as well as maritime IT industries. It is said that the Busan Metropolitan City Government and the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency have invested 4 billion won (approximately $347 million) last year in the region's sagging IT industries. Hur Nam-sik, mayor of Busan Metropolitan City said in a special interview with The Korea IT Times recently that the central Government is planning to establish two to three world-class innovation clusters in Korea within 15 years and prepare a plan whereby local cities will have self-sustaining infrastructure based on city and provincial-level strategic industries. "In accordance with this scheme, Busan will develop into a transport-business hub city, based on the port, transportation, IT and cinema", the Mayor emphasizes. In a word, Busan is thus expected to function as the lynchpin of the southeast economic zone. The Busan Port Authority is also undergoing a paradigm shift as the Port launches a promotional drive to attract shipping and freight, as opposed to the usual posture whereby a port merely waits for cargo to be landed. To attain superiority over competing ports such as Shanghai or Singapore, promoting the informatization of port activities and the application of IT are considered some of the most important tasks for the Busan Port Authority, which was launched in January last year. Port Authority president Choo Junesuk explains that the Busan Port Authority is devoting a great deal of effort to offering real-time information to shippers as well as shipping lines operating in the port and sharing information with shippers and relevant institutions by constructing an inhouse IT network. For this purpose, he points out that the Busan Port Authority must prepare for the advent of new ubiquitous IT environment through which it will be possible to access information anytime and anywhere. Mr. Choo underscores that the kernel of such enhanced competitiveness lies in the IT informatization of port activity. In this respect, the president said that the Busan Port Authority has recently established a management information team to take full charge of IT informatization. The Port Authority further is introducing an in-house electronic settlement system in order to develop as a frontrunner in the IT field, the president says the Authority will enhance its IT competitiveness to a level no less than any competing ports such as Hong Kong or Singapore by benchmarking even more advanced ports. In conclusion, the Busan Port Authority is emerging as a capable partner in meeting customer needs and helping customers succeed in the maritime transportation industry, he said.