Haropa Port chief named IAPH vice-president Europe

Stéphane Raison’s appointment marks the first time the post has been held by a French citizen, a signal perhaps of the wider intention of France to adopt a position at the forefront of the ongoing changes in the port sector.

“I think that the port authority of tomorrow will be able to play a proactive role in contributing to and establishing a new framework for growth aligned with climate change, energy transition and reindustrialisation,” said Stéphane Raison, CEO, Haropa ports and vice-president for Europe, IAPH.

“I strongly believe that the efficiency of a port is linked to the interactions between industrial actors, the logistics sector and shipping companies – and – of course, interactions with other port authorities.”

Big responsibility

Mr Raison was appointed to the position at the Annual General Meeting of IAPH ports held in Abu Dhabi.

Given that all ports are currently facing the same challenges regarding climate change and energy transition, one of his major responsibilities as VP Europe will be to seek to ensure that best practice is shared across the different IAPH regions – in particular on the Climate & Energy and Risk & Resilience Committees.

This will allow ports to more effectively replicate technologies and processes that are already in place.

He will also be tasked with creating a conduit for the sharing of knowledge and expertise to promote greener port transport and the notion of ports as instruments for reindustrialisation – in particular fostering better collaboration with stakeholders.

IAPH is a non-governmental organization (NGO) created in November 1955 by around 100 world port heads.

Over the past six decades, the organisation has developed into a global alliance of ports and represents today some 177 ports and 147 port-related businesses in 84 countries.

Taken together, the member ports handle well over 60% of the world’s sea-borne trade and over 60% of the world’s container traffic.