HONG KONG, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The 8th Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference opened here Tuesday, attracting more than 2,100 people, including experts and practitioners, to attend and exchange views on the latest development of the logistics and maritime industries.

The two-day conference, jointly organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, aims to provide a platform for learning, sharing and exchanges among some of the biggest players in the industry, and help chart a path forward. It also highlights Hong Kong's role as the region's logistics and maritime hub.

Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam said that trading and logistics is one of Hong Kong's four pillar industries, contributing 22 percent of Hong Kong's GDP and accounts for some 19 percent of Hong Kong's total employment.

She said a new logistics center will be built at the Hong Kong International Airport, allowing Hong Kong to capture the opportunities presented by the fast-emerging retail revolution. The center, relying on robotics and automation, will be able to process 1.7 million tons of cargo a year when it opens in 2023.

When delivering his keynote speech, Lim Jock Hoi, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), gave comprehensive insights into the latest developments and opportunities for the logistics industry in ASEAN countries.

He said ASEAN is the the world's 6th largest economy and is becoming an increasingly important trading center. ASEAN's logistic and transport system are becoming more horizontally and vertically integrated, and the Hong Kong SAR and ASEAN are strategic trade partners.