Global ship expo launched

HA NOI — The 5th International Exhibition on Shipbuilding, Marine Technology and Transportation – Vietship 2010, is expected to witness the signing of a number of contracts totally worth US$300 million.
The three-day event which kicked off yesterday at the National Convention Centre in Ha Noi has attracted 600 stalls from 300 companies with two-thirds from developed shipbuilding countries such as Japan, China, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway including Kwong Soon, Lloyd's Register, Ned Deck, Simexco and Hempel.
In a speech delivered at the opening ceremony, Minister of Transport Ho Nghia Dung, said the biennial exhibitionwas organised in the context of the global economic post-crisis.
"However, with the success of the four previous exhibitions, Vietship should draw large numbers of domestic and international businesses operating in the shipbuilding and maritime industry," Dung said.
He added the event would create opportunities for firms to co-operate and exchange technology, thus enhancing trade promotion as well as development of the country's maritime sector.
Accordingly, the exhibition should be viewed as a giant landmark in Viet Nam's shipbuilding and maritime industry development in terms of scale, quality and quantity.
He also said that Vietship 2010 had become one of leading events in the industry, not only in Viet Nam, but also in the Southeast region.
Viet Nam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin)'s chairman Pham Thanh Binh said the event would offer golden opportunities for shipbuilders in co-operation and investment.
Covering an area of 20,000sq.m, the exhibition is showcasing state-of-the-art shipping technology and equipment, shipbuiding materials, logistics and insurance services and shipping register procedures.
Binh said many international shipping giants were attending the event as representatives of their countries.
"The exhibition will be a bridge for enterprises and potential partners to exchange co-operation opportunities," he said.
Being an organiser of the event, he said the exhibition would reflect the development of the country's shipbuilding industry as well as the market.
Binh said Vinashin would market products which have helped Viet Nam to a strong industry position, particulary ships from 1,000 to 3,000DWT.
"With shipbuilding capacity of 100,000 tonnes and ships carring 5,000 cars, the industry should expand its reputation to international partners," he said.
There would be conferences on prosperity, opportunities and challenges for both Viet Nam and the international maritime community, and on the vision for a green industry at the exhibition today.
Binh said contracts signed at the fourth exhibition in 2008 reached $1 billion, excluding mergers and acquisitions, during the industry boom period.
The exhibition aims to assist Viet Nam's shipbuilding industry to achieve its target of sourcing 60 per cent of input from local shipbuilders by 2015.
The event is expected to attract 30,000 visitors and to cement its place on the international maritime calendar.

source vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn