President Nam Ki-chan of Busan Port Authority.

Busan Port Authority established a “BPA New Deal” action plan to realize sustainable development of Busan Port in the post-COVID-19 pandemic and 4th Industrial Revolution era in accordance with the government’s comprehensive Korean New Deal policies.

The BPA New Deal action plan is designed to envisage a big picture perspective of a public entity’s role in coping with a rapidly changing environment in a nimble fashion and promoting sustainable development of Busan Port and BPA.

It calls for creating a smart port adopting advanced technologies, reinventing public services to promote public conveniences, realizing an eco-friendly, safe port, and creating social values through job creation.

BPA decided to finance 286.5 billion won in five years to implement 30 tasks in three areas – “Digital New Deal”, “Green New Deal” and a reinforced safety net.

Thirteen tasks to be implemented in the Digital New Deal sector include a data buildup project designed to expand and strengthen the ecosystem of port-related industries, constructing a marine and fisheries big data platform and center, supporting smart factory buildup of the port, and setting up the port’s integrated data dam.

Eight tasks to be carried out in the Green New Deal sector include the establishment of infrastructure to expand green energies using the port’s space, creation of an eco-friendly port using seawater heat, pursuing carbon zero of large-sized unloading equipment, and building and introducing the nation’s first electric-powered port guidance ships.

A view of Busan New Port. (Photos: BPA)

Nine tasks, to be executed in the reinforced safety net sector, include the nurturing of new skilled manpower for the replacement of port crew to brace for port automation, developing a vision system designed to promote the safety and efficiency of the port, the operating of a startup space and growth support for collaboration among the private, government and public sectors, and the establishment of a platform to support Busan Port New Deal and startup.

BPA President Nam Ki-chan said, “BPA, seizing the current crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as a new opportunity, has picked tasks to execute the BPA New Deal as a stepping stone to promote the sustainability of the port and finished budget allotment, and they will contribute to revising the economy, creating jobs, and part of the Korean New Deal will be realized as an example model at Busan Port.”

BPA, which celebrated the 16th anniversary Jan. 16, finalized eight major tasks, to be implemented this year.

In April, the authority entered a crisis management mode designed to respond to the pandemic while establishing 2030 management goals and mid- and long-term development strategies in June.

BPA reorganized its structure in July while establishing the Busan New Deal task force to explore New Deal tasks by gathering inside opinions and outside experts’ consultations in September.

In November, BPA established management goals for 2020, mid- and long development strategies, and BPA New Deal action plan.

BPA Wins Top Prize in 2020 Public Entity Service Innovation Grand Awards

BPA was awarded with the top prize in the 2nd 2020 Public Entity Service Innovation Grand Awards. The Korean Society of Public Enterprise selects and presents the Public Entity Service Innovation Grand Awards to organizations which have reinvented public service.

The society conducted a public contest under the theme “Public Entities Efforts to Overcome the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Busan Port Authority won the top prize in the 2nd 2020 Public Entity Service Innovation Grand Awards in recognition of its leading roles in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and the stable operation of the port.