5th Mare Forum Hong Kong 2025

As one of the world’s great maritime centres, Hong Kong has long been a gateway for global trade, a hub for ship finance, and a trusted partner for the international shipping industry. Today, as the maritime sector faces the dual challenges of energy transition and digital transformation, Hong Kong’s role as a connector between China, Asia, and the world is more vital than ever.

This year’s Mare Forum will focus on how Hong Kong can strengthen its position as a leading green, digital, and financial hub for the maritime industry. Through bold visions, smart investments, and collaborative strategies, Hong Kong has the opportunity to shape the future of global shipping and reaffirm its leadership in this new era.

Together with the Hong Kong Government and our distinguished speakers and participants, Mare Forum is proud to continue its mission: fostering dialogue, generating ideas, and building bridges that will support Hong Kong’s maritime success for decades to come.

The Mare Forum conferences do not feature dull company presentations or lengthy and predictable speeches. Instead, they foster dynamic and lively discussions where the panellists and audience participants engage in meaningful exchanges.

If you are in shipping and trade and are interested in Maritime Hong Kong, and want to know what will happen next, come to the Mare Forum. Good answers will be there.

It will be inspiring. Be There.

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P R O G R A M M E

Thursday 20 November 2025
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Soho House & Co, 33 Des Voeux Road W, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
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- Benjamin Wong – Head of Transport, Logistics and Industrial, Invest HK (Conference Chairman)
- Ms Mable CHAN, JP - Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Hong Kong SAR Government
- Hing Chao – Executive Chairman, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings Limited
- Niraj Nanda – Chief Commercial Officer, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Limited
- Nicholas Brown – Corporate Affairs Director, Marine & Offshore, Bureau Veritas (Moderator)
- Rosita Lau   MH  FCILT – Partner , Ince and Co , Member of the Maritime Services Development Committee Maritime and Port Development Board (Moderator)
- Uttam K. Jaiswal – General Manager, Operations, Pacific Basin Shipping / Vice Chairman, INTERCARGO
- Arjun Batra – Executive Chairman, Drewry Group
- Jianjun (JJ) Wang – CEO, Goldsea International Company Limited
- Georgios Kostoulas – Executive Director, Mare Forum
- Jay K. Pillai – Strategic Advisor, Dry Cargo Ship Owners INTERCARGO / JP Maritime Limited
- Jagmeet Singh Makkar – Accredited Mediator & Practising Arbitrator; Former Chairman, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), Hong Kong Branch
- Anna Ruszczynska – Sales Director APAC, OneOcean
- James Ieong - Founder and Partner, Climate Impact Corporation
- Xuanlun (XL) Cai - CEO Hong Kong, West of England Insurance Services (Luxembourg) S.A.
- Capt. Sanjeev Verma Managing Director, Landbridge Ship Management (HK) Limited
- Irene Rosberg Programme Director, Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics (The Blue MBA) Denmark
- Pino Spadafora Global Marine Commercial Senior Director, RINA
- ‍‍more to be announced

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13:30-14:00


➤ Registration & Networking
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14:00 Session 1:

➤ Opening and Welcome - Hong Kong at the Helm: Navigating Global Maritime Shifts

"Visions from industry pioneers and government leaders"

‍‍- Where are global trade and shipping heading, and how can Hong Kong’s maritime leadership help shape the conversation?
- Energy transition and maritime decarbonisation – challenges, opportunities, and Hong Kong’s contributions.
- In an age of uncertainty, how can maritime Hong Kong remain a trusted, forward-looking hub at the heart of global trade?

Speakers include regulators, charterers, shipowners, capital providers, and port authorities.

- Nicholas Brown – Corporate Affairs Director, Marine & Offshore, Bureau Veritas (Moderator)
- Ms Mable CHAN, JP - Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Hong Kong SAR Government (KEYNOTE SPEECH)
- Hing Chao – Executive Chairman, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings Limited
- Niraj Nanda – Chief Commercial Officer, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Limited
- Uttam K. Jaiswal – General Manager, Operations, Pacific Basin Shipping & Vice Chairman, INTERCARGO
- more to be confirmed
 
14:50 Session 2:

➤ Strengthening Hong Kong’s Maritime Competitiveness

"From Tradition to Transformation: Building Asia’s Green and Digital Hub"

- Building Hong Kong as Asia’s nodal point for green shipping, finance, and maritime innovation.
- Hong Kong in the global maritime network – comparative perspectives and unique advantages.
- Future strategies of Hong Kong shipowners and the wider maritime cluster.
- Policy initiatives and emerging trends supporting Hong Kong’s long-term competitiveness.
- Human capital development in the age of decarbonisation and digitalisation – building talent for the future.
- Financing the future fleet – Hong Kong’s ship leasing, green finance, and alternative capital solutions.

A dynamic exchange of ideas with shipowners, charterers, financiers, ports, shipbuilders, and entrepreneurs.

- Rosita Lau   MH  FCILT – Partner , Ince and Co , Member of the Maritime Services Development Committee Maritime and Port Development Board (Moderator)
- Jay K. Pillai – Strategic Advisor, Dry Cargo Ship Owners INTERCARGO / JP Maritime Limited
- Jagmeet Singh Makkar – Accredited Mediator & Practising Arbitrator; Former Chairman, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), Hong Kong Branch
- Xuanlun (XL) Cai - CEO Hong Kong, West of England Insurance Services (Luxembourg) S.A.
- Capt. Sanjeev Verma Managing Director, Landbridge Ship Management (HK) Limited
- Irene Rosberg Programme Director, Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics (The Blue MBA) Denmark
- Pino Spadafora Global Marine Commercial Senior Director, RINA
- more to be confirmed
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15:40

➤ Networking Break
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16:00 Session 3:

➤ Smart Investment Moves – Where Should the Money Go?

"Capitalising on Opportunities: Financing the Future of Maritime Hong Kong"
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- Shipowners’ strategies: the gamble for tomorrow.
- Where to invest now — deep sea vs short sea, growth vs consolidation.
- Investing in people: creating tomorrow’s maritime talent.
- AI, automation, and innovation – identifying Hong Kong’s smart bets.

Perspectives from analysts, investors, charterers, regulators, and shipowners on opportunities ahead.

- Benjamin Wong – Head of Transport, Logistics and Industrial, Invest HK (Moderator)
- Hing Chao – Executive Chairman, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport Holdings Limited
- Arjun Batra – Executive Chairman, Drewry Group
- Jianjun (JJ) Wang – CEO, Goldsea International Company Limited
- Anna Ruszczynska – Sales Director APAC, OneOcean
- James Ieong - Founder and Partner, Climate Impact Corporation
- more to be confirmed
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16:50 Session 4:

➤ Conclusions and Recommendations

- Benjamin Wong – Head of Transport, Logistics and Industrial, Invest HK
- Nicholas Brown – Corporate Affairs Director, Marine & Offshore, Bureau Veritas
- Rosita Lau – Partner, Ince Hong Kong; Member, Maritime Services Development Committee, Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board

17:00 - 18:00

➤ Networking Drinks

“Stronger Together: Celebrating Hong Kong’s Maritime Community”
An excellent opportunity to continue the dialogue informally, celebrate Hong Kong’s maritime ecosystem, and strengthen business connections.