Navigating the Global Future: Port of Hueneme Spotlights Current Trade and AI Innovations during World Trade Week

Drew Rodriguez, Public & Community Relations Senior Representative at the Port of Hueneme, was this year’s emcee. Oxnard Harbor District President, Celina Zacarias, welcomed attendees by stating that international trade is important to the Port of Hueneme and to the region.

“It is my distinct honor to be here to celebrate World Trade Week and its connection to us all here in Ventura County,” President Zaracias said. “We are gathered here at the Port of Hueneme—the birthplace of the FATHOMWERX technology lab—to continue to explore the world trade and supply chain landscape and its interconnection to technology and its potential for the Ventura County region.”

“Happy World Trade Day!” Decas declared before jumping into her presentation about the Port. “We just came back from a trade mission and had quite an amazing experience in both South Korea and Japan,” she said. “We signed two MOUs (memorandum of understanding) and these MOUs really homed in not only on economic development, customer relations, building business, but importantly, about building green corridors and sustainability and moving towards a footprint of decarbonization.”

Ambassador Ricardo Santana, Consulado de Mexico en Oxnard, said: “Our ongoing trade partnership continues to grow. For us, the Port is very important because of its location—strategically situated on the Central Coast of California for its infrastructure with the modern docks, storage facilities, and railway access. In 2022, bilateral trade between Mexico and California amounted to $73.7 billion dollars.”

Mantas Zamzickas, Commercial Attaché of Lithuania to the USA, Consulate General of Lithuania in Los Angeles said: “The Port of Klaipeda is the biggest in Lithuania and started a collaboration with the Port of Hueneme just last year. Hopefully, in upcoming years, the (trade) numbers will increase.”

Sean Kagan, Senior Trade Policy Advisor, British Consulate-General Los Angeles, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: “The U.S. is the U.K.’s largest export market for goods and services, so it is a really important trade relationship for the United Kingdom. U.S./U.K. bilateral invest is worth over $1.5 trillion—supporting more than 2.7 million jobs. It’s great to be at a port where you can see that happening. You can see the goods coming in.”

Betty Young, Business Development Officer, Hong Kong Trade Development Council said: “We are here to connect international companies to meet many of the rising opportunities in this market and in growing sectors. Hong Kong can facilitate new opportunities in innovation and technology, medical and healthcare, sustainability, and creative.”

This year’s keynote speaker was Caroline Kaufman, Industries Team Lead in the Office of Supply Chain Services and the International Trade Administration which is a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

After a lunch break, Richard Swanson, a Senior Advisor for the Office of the Regional Director – Pacific South Network, U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Maryanne Burke, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service for the U.S. Export Assistance Center office located at the Port of Hueneme provided a regional update, discussed the District Export Council of Southern California, and shared foreign direct investment information.

“It is a true pleasure to be here and to be joined by three top exports in our Southern California community,” Racek said. “What our speakers have in common is that they are already transforming trade operations by applying AI to international trade.”

The panel included Todd Smith, Founder & CEO of KYG Trade; Vincent Iacopella, EVP Growth & Strategy of Alba Wheels Up International; and Ray Bowman, Director of the Economic Development Collaborative Small Business Development Center.

To close the event, the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Commissioners presented special awards focused on companies who export goods through the Port of Hueneme.

The Auto Export Achievement was presented to Toyota Motor North America by Celina Zacarias, President of the Oxnard Harbor District, the Container Export Achievement was awarded to Allied Potato by Oxnard Harbor Commissioner, Maryanne Rooney, and the EDC World Trade Advocacy Award was awarded to Moorpark College by the Economic Development Center of Ventura County.

A Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Commercial Service was awarded to the Port of Hueneme by Maryanne Burke, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service U.S. Export Assistance Center office at the Port of Hueneme and Richard Swanson, Senior Advisor for the Office of the Regional Director, Pacific South Network, U.S Commercial Service.