Minister Choi launches port marketing

The Minister of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF), Mr. Lark-jung Choi, will visit domestic and foreign shipping companies as well as large shippers on his own in order to promote Korean ports.
According to MOMAF, Minister Choi is setting out to recover competitiveness and credibility for domestic ports that have suffered productivity setbacks and damaged reputations from typhoon Maemi and continuous trucker' strikes.
The minister ordered working-level officials to arrange visiting schedules after his inaugural ceremony. Especially, he will visit domestic shipping companies such as Hanjin Shipping and Hyundai Merchant Marine first.
Minister Choi will also visit China and the Netherlands to look around their port development and to persuade major shippers and shipping companies to call at Korean ports, stressing their competitiveness.
He said that he regarded it as more urgent to hear about problems at domestic ports and in logistic flows from Korean shipping companies than going abroad for sales activities. He promised to play the role of ?ales man?
An insider at a domestic shipping company said that it is pretty common to see a new minister inviting managers from shipping companies and holding meetings together. However, ?t is very rare to see him visit the company on his own,he added.