Title: Investigating the strategies for Australian regional ports' involvement in regional development

Authors: Quazi M.H. Sakalayen; Peggy Shu-Ling Chen; Stephen Cahoon

Addresses: Department of Maritime and Logistics Management, Australian Maritime College, UTAS, Locked Bag 1397, Launceston, Australia ' Department of Maritime and Logistics Management, Australian Maritime College, UTAS, Locked Bag 1397, Launceston, Australia ' Department of Maritime and Logistics Management, Australian Maritime College, UTAS, Locked Bag 1397, Launceston, Australia

Abstract: The growth of regional ports (in sub-national context) and their host regions is conditional upon one another. A regional port requires a vision for growing its business as well as its region. To achieve this goal, it is essential for regional ports to initiate effective strategies. This paper explores the pertinent factors and strategic initiatives for effective involvement of Australian regional ports in regional development through a questionnaire survey to Australian regional port stakeholders. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, this study suggests that Australian regional ports undertake multiple strategies when involved in regional development, including collaboration to create supply chain efficiency, collaboration with regional organisations for regional growth, playing a proactive role in the regional innovation system, and being pro-active for port's environmental and social responsibility.

Keywords: regional ports; regional development; collaboration; port sustainability; regional innovation systems; RIS; Australia; supply chain management; SCM; supply chain efficiency; collaboration; regional growth; port environmental responsibility; port social responsibility.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2016.075012

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2016 Vol.8 No.2, pp.153 - 174

Received: 08 Sep 2014
Accepted: 01 Apr 2015
Published online: 29 Feb 2016 *

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