Mid East gateway for India's sea trade with Europe and USA, says Shipowners Association

Mr Kulkarni says with up to 95% of India's trade moving by sea, the Middle East is crucial as a large proportion of world shipping passes through the region.

"The Middle East is now undoubtedly the gateway for European and American business as far as the Indian Subcontinent is concerned," says Kulkarni.

INSA is now looking to further cement its relationship with the Middle East at the Seatrade Middle East Maritime exhibition and conference which will be held in Dubai in December and which will feature an Indian industry pavilion.

"Seatrade 2004 not only offers locational advantage but has also been well timed as the outlook for the shipping industry appears very positive," says Kulkarni. "The reconstruction of Iraq and the ambitious offshore oil and gas projects of Africa are opportunities contributing towards the potential."

INSA, which has a membership representing almost 90% of Indian tonnage, is officially supporting Seatrade Middle East Maritime, to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, 6-8 December 2004.

The event, says Kulkarni, will give Indian companies the chance to promote their competitive edge.

"Indian shipping companies are on an unprecedented expansion spree due to the fiscal reforms introduced by the Indian Government for the shipping sector coupled with the booming freight market," says Kulkarni. "Indian tonnage, which was hovering around 6.3 million gt for the past decade, is now rapidly moving up to cross the 7 million mark.

"Buoyed by the international boom across all shipping sectors, including dry bulk and container, Indian shipping has now set its eyes on cross trading. An increasing number of Indian flag ships are now participating in international business."

Mr Kulkarni also points to India's spiraling external trade, growing at a rate of between 18-20% per annum.

"In 2002-2003, India's total exports were valued at US $52.37 billion, whereas imports were to the tune of US $61.44 billion," he says.

To date, exhibitors from 12 countries have registered for Seatrade Middle East Maritime, which will also feature industry pavilions from Iran and Pakistan.

This year's Seatrade event will have two parallel conference streams - one dealing with General Shipping, the other with the Gulf and the Indian Ocean as a cruise destination as well as a parallel Commodities conference.

Seatrade Middle East Maritime is being held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister. Other organizations supporting the event include: Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the Dubai Shipping Agents Association; the National Association of Freight Logistics UAE Branch; the Nautical Institute UAE Branch and the UAE National Ship Suppliers' Association.

The event is sponsored by Dubai Maritime City, Dubai Port Authority, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai, and the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). It is also sponsored by Aqua Group, Clyde & Co, HSBC, Instone International, Lloyd's Register, Maritime London, Net Cruises, Scan-Trans Chartering LLC, Sharaf Shipping Agency LLC and TEAM Nico International.

The event is supported by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce Industry, the Dubai Shipping Agents Association, National Association of Freight Logistics, Indian National Shipowners' Association (INSA), the Nautical Institute UAE Branch, and the UAE National Ship Suppliers' Association.