Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City Confirmed as Host of the 2027 AIVP World Conference, the First-Ever in Korea and the First in Asia in 25 Years

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that Busan was unanimously confirmed as the host city for the 2027 AIVP World Conference during the First General Assembly of the 2026 AIVP (The Worldwide Network of Port Cities), held virtually yesterday (July 6) at 10:00 p.m. Korea Standard Time (3:00 p.m. local time in France).

The successful bid is particularly significant as it marks the first time the conference will be held in Korea and the first time it will return to Asia in 25 years since Dalian, China, hosted the event in 2002. Busan was selected over competing candidate cities including Seville (Spain), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Réunion (France), and Oslo (Norway).

Established in 1988, AIVP is an international association comprising 197 members from 44 countries, including local governments, port authorities, and maritime experts. It promotes international exchange and cooperation among port cities. Last year’s conference was held in New York, while this year’s conference is scheduled to take place in Dunkirk, France, this November.

Since joining the AIVP Board of Directors in November last year, Busan Metropolitan City has organized and operated a dedicated bid committee in cooperation with the Busan Tourism Organization (BTO), while working closely with the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Busan Port Authority (BPA), Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, and other related organizations to prepare its bid.

Working with the Convention Bureau Team of the Busan Tourism Organization, the city carried out comprehensive bid activities, including strategic planning meetings, external cooperation, on-site promotional efforts, and preparation of the official bid proposal. The Korea Tourism Organization provided customized financial support for attracting the international conference.

In addition, the Busan Port Authority and the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries actively supported the bid by submitting official letters of endorsement signed by the heads of their respective organizations.

The city attributed its successful bid primarily to its outstanding presentation at the AIVP Board of Directors meeting held in Antwerp, Belgium, on May 20, combined with extensive pre-bid outreach and negotiations with members of the Executive Board and Board of Directors.

Before and after the board meeting, the city held individual meetings with every member of the Executive Board, including AIVP President Edouard Philippe, Mayor of Le Havre, France, and Vice President Olga Farman, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Québec. The city also met with Johan Klaps, Chairman of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, to strongly communicate Busan’s commitment to hosting the conference.

Furthermore, Busan distinguished itself from competing candidate cities—including Réunion, Seville, and Abidjan—through a compelling bid presentation centered on the city’s identity as Korea’s maritime capital, featuring distinctive storytelling and internationally recognized unique venues.

Meanwhile, Busan Metropolitan City plans to begin full-scale preparations for the 2027 conference by preparing for the AIVP Secretariat’s on-site inspection scheduled for September and officially announcing Busan as the 2027 host city during this year’s conference in Dunkirk, France, this November.

Through the conference, the city intends to further strengthen the international profile of Busan as the world’s second-largest transshipment port and one of the world's top maritime cities. It will also showcase its key maritime initiatives, including its eco-friendly smart port strategy, the North Port Redevelopment Project—the world’s largest waterfront redevelopment initiative—and the development of a global logistics platform.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “It is a great honor to host the World Conference of AIVP, the world’s largest network of port cities. Successfully securing this conference will serve as a cornerstone for Busan’s transformation from Korea’s maritime capital into a truly global maritime city. As this is an international conference that our city will lead and prepare, we will work closely with the central government and related organizations to ensure that it becomes the most successful conference in the event’s history.”