Less than two weeks off, Sea Asia to buck economic trend

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Singapore: Challenging times always bring opportunities, as the Chinese would say, and that's certainly the view of attendees at this year's Sea Asia event at Suntec in Singapore on April 21-23, where confirmed exhibition space is up 60% up on the previous event in 2007. Co-organisers Seatrade and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) are naturally delighted by the positive response from both local and global companies, confirming Singapore's growing importance as an international maritime centre.
More than 350 companies from 27 countries are confirmed to exhibit and more are expected to finalise bookings between now and the kick-off.  CEOs, shipping executives and professionals from close to 50 countries have registered to attend the conference and visit the exhibition.
Singapore’s Senior Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, Prof S. Jayakumar, will be the Guest of Honour. Prof Jayakumar will officially open Sea Asia 2009 and tour the exhibition on the morning of Tuesday 21 April.
Sea Asia 2009 will unite maritime industry players, and other related business leaders, from around the world to influence the direction Asian maritime economies will move in, and to discuss all opportunities for pulling the global shipping industry out of the doldrums and informing the markets about the sector’s priorities during this global financial crisis.
“With the strong support we have received, I am optimistic that despite the economic climate Sea Asia 2009 is going to be a tremendous success," said Seatrade Chairman Chris Hayman. "We have fantastic endorsement from the industry �" both locally and internationally. In difficult times like these, I think it is especially important for business leaders to gather to address current challenges."
The conference, themed ‘The Asian Voice in World Shipping: Clearer & Stronger’, will once again unite a stellar cast of Asian shipping personalities on stage. The full conference programme can be viewed on:
http://www.sea-asia.com/conference/conference.html
In total, more than 8,000 shipping professionals are anticipated to join Sea Asia 2009 and of special interest will be the country pavilions in the exhibition, where visitors can learn about the maritime industries of China, Japan, Korea, Norway, Panama, Singapore and UK through representatives of equipment suppliers, shipping companies and service providers.  The China Pavilion has returned to Sea Asia 2009 with an expanded space of over 300 square metres representing a diverse range of companies and products from different provinces and areas of China.
Sea Asia 2009 also provides extensive networking opportunities for participants wishing to forge new business relationships or re-establish old ones.  Networking events include the GAC Sea Asia 2009 Golf Classic, cocktail receptions, pre-conference coffees/teas, delegate lunches in the exhibition hall and the Sea Asia 2009 Happy Hour where the signature Singapore Sling cocktail will be served by True Heritage Brew.
Participants attending Sea Asia can also look forward to a host of other maritime events under Singapore Maritime Week, which takes place from 18 to 24 April, including the Third Singapore Maritime Lecture, the International Chemical and Oil Pollution Conference (ICOPCE) 2009, and the Singapore International Maritime Awards (IMA) Gala Dinner hosted by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). [08/04/09]