Gulf Maritime starts tomorrow at Expo Centre Sharjah

Gulf Maritime starts tomorrow, 19 April and will be open until 21 April 2004.

"The exhibition," Mr. Khan said, "is a complete maritime event; it will not only serve as an effective platform for the show's participants to enlarge the scope of their businesses in this region, but will also act as a comprehensive networking, sourcing and educational opportunity for the regional industry.

"With a 30% growth over its past edition, the current edition offers even more choices and opportunities for the show's visitors. At the same time, a comprehensive seminar programme will be held alongside the show on 20th and 21st April, featuring speakers who will introduce revolutionary technology and address the burning issues facing the industry.

"Not surprisingly, the event has received a strong interest from the Middle East and North Africa region. So far, some 640 trade visitors from 34 countries have pre-registered to visit the show. These include delegations from major buyers like Saudi Aramco and Kuwait Oil Company. We expect a total attendance of over 3000 quality trade visitors to this specialised event," he said.

Speaking on the strong prospects of the regional maritime industry, Mr. Mohammed Salem Al Mosharrekh, Board Member of Expo Centre Sharjah said," An important factor that has helped the exhibition is the boom in the Gulf region's maritime industry. Presently, there is an enormous amount of marine related construction in port development, shipyard construction and residential and commercial real estate development, on and beyond the coasts.

"For example," continued Mr. Mosharrekh, "the Sharjah Port Authority, which is one of the main sponsors of Gulf Maritime, is doubling the size of its main Arabian Sea container port Khor Fakkan. This, in addition to ongoing major developments at its ports on the Gulf side.

"There are more than 15 major ports in the region, some with significant industrial projects attached to them that are being substantially developed at the moment," he said.

"At the same time," Mr. Mosharrekh pointed out, "the reconstruction of Iraq 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."