International Maritime Community Creates the Largest Ever Marintec China

CMP, the organiser of Marintec China announces that more of the world's leading shipbuilders will expand their booths in the forthcoming Marintec China exhibition to be held in December 2005. Hyundai Heavy Industries, as well as the Danish, German, Korean and Norwegian pavilions have all confirmed a double-digit expansion of their booths at this, the most important maritime exhibition in Asia.

The Korean-based company, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), will participate in Marintec China for the first time. HHI is the world's largest shipbuilding company, with annual production of 64 ships (4.54 million GT) and sales revenue of approximately US$3.87 billion in 2004. Mr Yong-hun Kim, Deputy General Manager, Overseas PR Department of HHI said that five of their divisions including the Shipbuilding, Offshore & Engineering, Engine & Machinery, Industrial Plant & Engineering, and Electro Electric Systems, along with two other subsidiary group companies - Hyundai Mipo Dock Yard and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, will participate in the exhibition.

In the national pavilion with the Korean pavilion has confirmed that it will expand its booth space by 50 percent. Korea is the world's largest shipbuilding nation accounting for 40 percent of global orders in 2004 according to the Shipping Intelligence Network of London.

From Europe, the German pavilion will also expand its booth space and, for the first time, will be located with the host country group in Hall W2. The German pavilion has traditionally been the largest overseas national pavilion since Marintec China's inception. The organiser has noted that, by bringing the China and German pavilions together, the East-meet-West effect will help form a strong link in both the exhibition and the maritime industry. The two pavilions will occupy the majority of Hall W2, which will be the must-visit destination for all players in the market.

Moreover, the Finnish, Swedish and Swiss pavilions will also expand their booths significantly to ensure that they have maximum exposure to the rapidly growing Chinese shipbuilding industry.

China's freight volume through its ports is growing rapidly. According to the People's Daily Overseas Edition and Chinanews.com, the annual container throughput through Shanghai Port is expected to exceed 14.5 million TEUs for 2004 and is forecast to grow to over 17 million TEUs in 2005.

"Shanghai's freight throughput this year (2004) will reach 380 million tons. It is definitely the second-largest port in the world in terms of the total tonnage it handles," said Yang Xiong, Deputy Mayor of the Shanghai Municipal Government.

Marintec China will take place in Shanghai, the fastest growing coastal port in China. This biennial exhibition is the most well established maritime exhibition in China and is co-organised by CMP / Seatrade and the Shanghai Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SSNAME). The exhibition is also sponsored by the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, PRC, the Ministry of Communications, PRC, and Shanghai Municipal People's Government. In addition the exhibition is co-sponsored by China State Shipbuilding Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and the Chinese Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. Marintec China 2005 will be held from 6-9 December 2005.

Marintec China has for many years received the full support and endorsement from China's senior government officials, major trade associations and leading organisations in both domestic and foreign maritime circles. As the most reputable maritime event in Asia, Marintec China 2005 is the perfect forum for the exchange of the latest technological advances and innovations as well the development of international business networks.