This meeting was held on October 24 (Friday), 2003 at NMRI. The meeting began with a presentation on logistics research currently in progress at the NMRI’s Logistics Research Center(Logistics Systems Research Group). The presentation featured 5 volumes , beginning with an introduction of the Center’s overall perception of issues in the field, together with methods, examples, etc., and also included nonscheduled coastal carriers, scheduled domestic routes, oceangoing tankers, and international container routes, with simulation demonstrations.

      The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Network Research Group then presented 4 volumes from foreign countries on subjects ranging from the current condition of merchant service in Indonesia, the passenger/logistics transportation network in Thailand and Southeast Asia, and trends in the number of marine accidents in the Philippines to a survey of the current condition of inland river transportation in Vietnam’s Mekong River delta region.

      The question-and-answer period was characterized by lively debate, and hopes for future exchanges were discussed.

      The meeting also included a tour of the NMRI’s facilities. Foreign participants were impressed with the facilities and research on logistics.