PTP executive director Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman also said the purpose-designed port catering for Super Post Panamax vessels and state-of-the-art information technology system facilitating fast movement of cargo enhanced its business potential.

He said this in a paper presented at the World Port Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, organised by the US Trade Development Agency which was attended by a spectrum of representatives from US Engineering associations, US shippers and logistics companies.

Also in attendance were leading firms such as ABN Amro, GE Capital, Parsons Brinkerhoff, Sea-Land Terminals, Maher Terminals, Lockheed Martin and Dames & Moore.

In the paper on Opportunities for Growth at PTP, Mohd Sidik highlighted the port's progress, from its construction in early 1997 to its present trial operations, which began on Oct 10.

He also told the mostly American audience that PTP had set its sight on being South East Asia's premier transhipment hub with its competitive edge over other regional ports.

Apart from introducing PTP and its facilities to the US port, shipping and logistics industry, he said PTP's participation in the conference would help to strengthen trade and economic ties between Malaysia and the US.

The private sector could help to take overall bilateral cooperation to a significantly higher plane, he said.

With participation varying from from all industries, Mohd Sidik expressed confidence that key American businesses would seek opportunities not only in PTP but also in Malaysia.

In this way, PTP believed its role as a private sector entity was to fulfill national economic growth objectives and potential.

Other advantages included its minimum diversion time from international shipping lanes, geographically strategic location and connectivity via its effective feeder network.