SHANGHAI AS AN INTERNATIONAL MARITIME CENTRE: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EAST ASIAN REGIONAL ECONOMY Ms. Jasmine S.L. LAM Department of Logistics The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hung Hom Kowloon Hong Kong Tel: +852 2766 5545 Fax: +852 2330 2704 Email: stljlam@polyu.edu.hk Professor Kevin CULLINANE School of Marine Science & Technology Armstrong Building University of Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle NE1 7RU United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 191 222 6718 Fax: +44 (0) 191 222 5491 Email: Kevin.Cullinane@ncl.ac.uk Abstract: Favourable policies, expanding maritime activities, and promising economic factors, especially after China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), provide Shanghai with a sound foundation and great potential to become an International Maritime Centre (IMC). This paper investigates the future prospects for Shanghai as an IMC and assesses the potential impact on the East Asian regional economy. From the viewpoint of East Asian nations, suggestions are made as to the challenges and opportunities that exist as the result of Shanghai’s further development. Particular reference is made to the kind of measures that can be introduced by policy makers to protect the commercial interests of the national maritime industry, and in what ways market players can capture the business opportunities created. Keywords: International Maritime Centre, maritime policy, Shanghai 288 Proceedings of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, Vol.4, October, 2003