Jens Meier confirmed as President of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) until 2027

Jens Meier, CEO of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), was unanimously re-elected President of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) until the end of 2027 at the organisation’s General Assembly held in Kobe, Japan on 9 October. Around 650 representatives from the global port industry attended this year’s World Ports Conference.

The key themes for the coming years include digitalisation, sustainability and resilience. Under the motto “Don’t forget the people”, Jens Meier placed a special emphasis on the human element at the heart of all technological developments. “Every new technology is useless unless we empower our employees to use it effectively,” Meier stated.

This year’s conference also marked a special milestone: the IAPH celebrated its 70th anniversary in Kobe together with the host city. At the closing session, Jens Meier and Kobe’s Mayor, Kizo Hisamoto, signed a joint statement carrying a strong message: “World Peace through World Trade. World Trade through World Ports.”

With this declaration, the IAPH and the City of Kobe underline the importance of open and reliable trade relations as a foundation for peace and global cooperation.