NTU-CEE Distinguished Speaker Series 2025: Professor Theo Notteboom
Organized By
CEE Seminar Committee
Host By
Associate Professor Yuen Kum Fai
Topic
Rethinking The Strategic Value of Seaports in The Face of Major Transitions
About the Seminar
Seaports have long been recognized as key drivers of economic activity, typically evaluated through metrics such as value added, job creation, investment levels, and contributions to trade balances. However, their significane goes beyond these indicators.
This seminar will explore how to assess the true value of seaports, not only in terms of the aforementioned factors but also by considering aspects like connectivity, resilience, safety and security, energy transition, circularity, and overall environmental stewardship.
Additionally, the presentation will discuss how value creation in ports is distributed both geographically and among relevant stakeholders, taking into account the challenges and opportunities that arise in this context. Concepts and measures of strategic value creation will be illustrated using examples from leading ports in Europe and Asia.
About the Speaker
Professor Theo Notteboom is a Professor of port and maritime economics. He is the Chair Professor at the Maritime Institute of Ghent University, and a Professor at the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Antwerp and Antwerp Maritime Academy. He previously held positions as Professor and Foreign Expert at universities in Dalian and Shanghai, China. He is a former President (2010-2014) of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME).
He is the co-founder and co-director of Porteconomics.eu and a member of the Risk and Resilience Committee of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH). He is an Associate Editor of Maritime Economics & Logistics and serves on the editorial boards of eight other leading academic journals in the field. He has published extensively and is among the most cited maritime economists worldwide.
Professor Theo Notteboom has participated as promoter or co-promoter in more than 100 academic research programs related to the port and maritime industry and logistics topics.