(Memphis, TN/March 7, 2007) On March 27-28, 2007, the Memphis World Trade Club will host its first annual Memphis Multi Modal Conference, a global educational and networking conference designed to encourage the exchange of ideas and trends among intermodal segments of the economy. Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC is a co-sponsor of the event, which is being held at The Peabody Hotel. A key focus of the conference will be the impact of Canadian National's (CN) $140 million investment in port facilities in Prince Rupert, British Columbia.
"Memphis has long been recognized as a major distribution hub, and this region's role in distribution of goods will increase significantly as a result of CN's Prince Rupert facilities," said Carey Treadwell, president of the Memphis World Trade Club. "Our goal with this first conference is to bring together major players from all areas of intermodal transit to heighten awareness of the impact CN's facilities will have on, not just the Memphis area, but the entire Mississippi River corridor."
Because it allows shippers to reduce the Pacific crossing time by three days, the Prince Rupert port plays a vital role in the efficient distribution of goods from the Pacific Rim into the U.S. And with CN serving the harbor directly, shipping containers are transferred only once, so shippers by-pass the congested Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors as well as other North American West Coast harbors. When the Prince Rupert port opens in October, an additional 75,000 containers a year are expected to move through CN-CSX's intermodal yard at Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park in southwest Memphis, a significant increase over the current volume. Moreover, it will have a significant impact on how goods from the Far East are shipped and distributed throughout North America.
The Multi Modal Conference will feature a panel discussion of the impact of the CN port facilities and a keynote address by Richard Newcomb, a member of Baker Donelson's International practice group. Mr. Newcomb, who served as director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department from January 1987 until October 2004, focuses his practice on international law, international trade, trade controls and economic sanctions.
Other topics being covered include counter-terrorism, cargo security, minimizing supply chain risk and unique services. Panelists and speakers at the event will include representatives from CN Railroad, Customs and Border Protection, the Memphis & Shelby County Port Commission, the Port of New Orleans, the International Warehousing and Logistics Association, the Foreign Trade Division of the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Honorary Consul of Canada, Memphis. Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton will also address the event.
A welcome reception will be held on Tuesday, March 27 at 6:00 p.m., and the conference will begin on Wednesday, March 28 at 8:00 a.m. with opening remarks from Peggy Grandpre with the Port of New Orleans.