News

Marintec China 2007 to Have "Full House" at SNIEC

Asia's definitive maritime conference and exhibition - Marintec China 2007 - will be held from 27-30 November 2007 in the Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre (SNIEC) in Pudong. Record sales for this event have resulted in a "full house" in three halls of SNIEC.

All of our stands were confirmed in early February this year and, as of today, there are still more than 60 companies on our waiting list, determined to join Asia's most forward-looking maritime event. The demand for exhibition area has resulted in the addition of a tented area outside the Chinese Pavilion. This has boosted the total floor area for the event to more than 34,500 square metres, which is a new record and is the perfect way to celebrate the 14th anniversary of Marintec China! This encouraging news also puts the event well and truly in the international spotlight.

In a Shipbuilding review of the first half of 2007, China's achieved an excellent performance. As announced by the General Administration of Customs of the PRC, China obtained an historic record high export volume of ships worth US$5.49 billion for the period Jan-June 2007, which is an increase of 61% over the same period last year. Meanwhile, Clarkson Research Studies announced that China has now overtaken Japan to take second place in terms of vessel tonnage on the order books, comprising of a 28% share of the world market. In addition, the management office for shipbuilding industry of CSTIND (Commission of Science, Technology & Industry for National Defence) pointed out that the shipbuilding output value scored by China has reached US$13.4 billion for Jan-Jun 2007, representing a 48% growth when compared with same period last year.

These figures, added to the excellent performance that China has achieved in the global marine market over the past few years, are another catalyst for the active market and which are fuelling China' s shipbuilding industry, bringing it closer to the goal of becoming the world' s largest shipbuilding country by 2015.

Running concurrently with Marintec China will be the Senior Maritime Forum, which is to be staged under the theme "China' s Economy and the Global Maritime Industry", and takes place on 27 and 28 November at the Renaissance Shanghai Pudong Hotel. The list of confirmed guest speakers at the Forum include Mr. Sean T. Connaughton, Administrator of The Maritime Administration (MARAD), U.S. Department of Transportation, Mr. Tor E. Svensen, Chairman of the International Association of Classification Society (IACS), and Dr. Martin Stopford, President of Clarksons Research Studies. In addition, Senior Chinese government officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, PRC, the Commission of Science, Technology & Industry for National Defence, PRC, the Ministry of Communications, PRC and Shanghai Municipal People's Government, have confirmed that they will be guests at the Forum. All these distinguished guests will give keynote speeches and presentations during the Forum, sharing their views on the market. Senior Chinese government officials and senior executives from overseas trade organisations and associations will also participate, giving analytical presentations thovide Forum participants with the most up-to-date information and market situations.