The rebuilding of Iraq to fuel a boom in region's maritime industry

Speaking on the coming second edition of Gulf Maritime exhibition and conference, to be held from 19 to 21 April 2004 at Expo Centre Sharjah, he said, "Gulf Maritime 2004 will provide an ideal platform for international and local shippers and suppliers to capitalise on this emerging boom."

"The reconstruction of Iraq," he continued,
"will require the shipping of large amounts of building materials such as concrete, cement, steel etc. to Iraq, which will not only generate more business for the region's shipping industry, but will also push up demand for new barges, supply boats, tugs and other work boats needed to carry this material."

One of the chief areas of rebuilding Iraq is to get the country's maritime transportation system up and running again. This requires the rebuilding of Iraq's major port, the Port of Umm Qasr, the country's maritime infrastructure, oil handling terminals, freight handling terminals and other activities related to the marine business and ocean transportation along its coast.

The revival of the Port of Umm Qasr will need the implementation of critical and short term projects. US construction giant Bechtel, backed by a US $ 680 million contract, is currently managing the restoration of the port. The port itself is being run by Stevedoring Services of America.

At the same time, work on renovation of the Umm Qasr Naval Base has begun, with the US $ 10.3 million project being recently awarded to Weston Solutions. The project includes renovation, construction of electrical, water and sewerage systems, security improvements, dock repairs and dredging.

Speaking on UAE's strategic advantage in the rebuilding of Iraq, Mr. Fasahat Ali Khan said, "Attracted by UAE's excellent business and maritime infrastructure, especially the excellent handling facilities provided by UAE's ports at competitive rates, most companies who are either involved in the rebuilding of Iraq or are eyeing to supply goods to Iraq, prefer to use UAE as their operational and trans-shipment hub. This will be a further boost in business for UAE's ports and sea cargo carriers," he said.

"All this bodes well for the region's maritime industry," he pointed out, "and the increased participation in the second edition of Gulf Maritime has been spurred, besides the exhibtion's successful first edition, by the region's promising maritime prospects."

Mr. Ashok Chowgule, Chairman and Managing Director of Chowgule and Co. from India, a participant at Gulf Maritime readily confirms this trend. "We specialise in building barges and other carriers for many years in India. Gulf Maritime, we are confident, will give us the opportunity to tap the increased demand for the same in this region."

Jointly organized by Expo Centre Sharjah and Baird Publications of Australia, Gulf Maritime 2004 will bring under its roof 110 exhibitors from 22 countries, dealing in the design, building and equipping of all types of vessels from fishing, offshore support vessels, tankers, tugs, ferries, patrol boats and all types of cargo ships, ship repair and port operations products & services and cargo handling.


The show will be open everyday from 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm from 19 to 21 April 2004.