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Planning the next 10 years:

Sabrina Chao

T
he past decade has seen an unprecedented

shift in the shipping industry towards Asia.

Will the next decade see that position

consolidated, or will the current jitters in the

Chinese economy slow the growth of the shipping

industry’s Asian development?

This was the question posed by Sabrina Chao,

Chairman, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport

Holdings Limited, and Deputy Chairman of the

Hong Kong Shipowners Association.

“One thing I think we can be sure of is that in

10 years’ time, Asia will have begun to get its head

around environmental issues more so than it has

today. Tackling pollution is very much at the top

of the current Chinese government’s agenda and

whilst 2025 will not see the problem resolved

fully, we should at least be on course with some

major improvements made, and these will have a

profound impact on the shipping industry.”

So what does the next decade hold for the Asian

ship owner?

“For the giant state-owned enterprises, the

consolidation that is already underway is likely

to be maintained, and the concerns that further

elements of protectionism will creep in are, in part,

justiied. The developments regarding Vale and

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