Mid East maritime industry comes of age as SMEM climbs the rankings

As SMEM readies for its biggest-ever showing - SMEM 2006 is a third larger than the 2004 event - it has emerged among the world's top ten maritime forums and the second fastest-growing after Marintec in China.

With over 250 exhibitors from 32 countries and nine national pavilions at the trade show and international experts from 13 nations addressing the three-day conference, SMEM is set to deliver ground-breaking strategies for the regional industry which is now witnessing unprecedented growth.

"SMEM's fortunes are inextricably linked to that of the maritime industry in the Middle East which is now sustaining unparallelled regional development," said Chris Hayman, Managing Director, Seatrade, the publishing and events company behind SMEM.

"SMEM 2006 is expected to produce some incisive strategies for all aspects of the regional industry as it moves into the premier league."

SMEM's powerful three-day conference programme will begin with five world-leading experts probing the state of the industry across the Middle East and Central Asia. They include Ahmad Armoush, Group Chairman of Jordan National Shipping Lines, Fred Doll of the UK's Doll Shipping Consultancy, Nicolas Pappadakis, Chairman of Intercargo, Mohammed Souri Chairman of the National Iranian Tanker Company and Sharafuddin Sharaf, President of the UAE Shipowners Association.

"These eminent experts will identify the region's new maritime players and their growth strategies, the infrastructure needed to support this positive business environment, investor sentiment for shipping and the climate for joint ventures with international partners," said Hayman.

"What will emerge is a road map for the regional industry to go forward."

Under the SMEM spotlight will be energy transportation and the likely future pattern of Middle East tanker demand, port infrastructure and development across the region, finance for shipping and the profile of the region's ship repair industry.

Meanwhile, 10 senior executives of the world's top cruise lines are heading to Dubai to attend The Fifth Seatrade Middle East Cruise Conference, which is an integral part of SMEM.

"These top-level cruise experts will be assessing the region's potential as a winter cruise destination and we are aware that at least one intends to make a significant announcement for plans impacting the Middle East," explained Hayman.

SMEM will also probe the state of the Gulf's SuperYacht industry profiling the region's fleet and growth and deployment among the increasing number of marina and waterfront developments.

SMEM will also host the third Seatrade Dubai International Maritime Awards (DIMAs) which will be presented at a gala dinner on December 4. Thirty-four companies have been shortlisted for the accolades which are the 'Industry Oscars' recognising top maritime achievers in West and Central Asia.

"Maritime expansion will be very much the order of next week with the SMEM exhibitor profile now spanning the Caribbean, Europe, the Americas, Middle and Far East, Scandinavia and Sub-continent," said Hayman. "And with a substantial influx of new-to-market exhibitors and countries represented the potential for new business agreements is substantial."

SMEM's exhibitor profile is equally as diverse spanning the entire spectrum of the maritime industry from registries, equipment suppliers, shipbuilders and repairers, owners and charterers, insurance and legal providers, ship management and agencies and classification societies.