Competitiveness of Global Port Cities: The Kaohsiung and Dubai experience

The competitive environment affecting port operations is in a constant state of flux, to the extent that distribution and evolution of container traffic has been described as following a random walk instead of logic of scale. Maritime researchers attribute this to the interplay of a range of factors including the redefinition of port hinterland and foreland, the rise of port-centric logistics, and the growth of China as the manufacturing hub of the world, among others. Drawing on the tenets of resource-based view of the firm and dynamic capability theory, this study examines how two global ports - Kaohsiung and Dubai - built their operational capabilities to sustain their competitive positions among the top container ports in the world during the last two decades. Aiming to offer a fresh perspective on understanding how port cities compete, this research opens a new avenue for formulating a framework for strategic port development