Sea Asia to Highlight Business Expansion Opportunities for European Companies In and Out of Asia Region

Having set a new record ahead of its third edition next April, SEA ASIA, the leading confex event for the maritime industry in Asia is a key platform for European companies looking to launch new products and grasp new opportunities in the region, says a spokesperson for marine navigations systems specialist, Kelvin Hughes.

“SEA ASIA acts as a key platform for us to reach out to shipyards and ship owners alike,” says Clarence Khoh, Regional Sales Manager of Kelvin Hughes Asia Pacific. “At Sea Asia 2011, we will be launching a new widescreen Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and also brand new power-packed software that will assist in passage planning to make the navigation process clear, manageable and safe.”

Exhibition bookings, still with eight months to go until SEA ASIA opens its doors for three days from 12-14 April 2011 at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, have now exceeded 3,000 square meters. The event is on target to achieve a 20% increase in exhibition show size. Many new bookings are made by companies in Europe and those outside the Asia region, as more maritime and maritime-related firms seek to tap new business opportunities in the fast-growing Asia region.

“We are delighted that bookings are significantly higher by comparison with Sea Asia 2009,” said Andrew Callaghan, Global Sales Director of Seatrade, the event organizer. “This clearly shows global and Asian maritime players are perceiving SEA ASIA as a valuable, business-driven event, and that Asia is pivotal to the continued growth of the world’s maritime economy.”

The conference, which sits alongside SEA ASIA’s huge exhibition of products and services, will also address the growing excitement about opportunities in Asia, as the influence and crucial importance of the region to world shipping keeps increasing.

“The Singapore maritime industry is one of the key pillars of our economy and is set to expand in breadth and depth. Through SEA ASIA, we hope to anchor Singapore’s position as one of the leading international maritime centers in this region and bring the global maritime community to Singapore to explore business opportunities. discuss pertinent maritime issues and network with their Asian counterparts,” said Mr David Chin, Executive Director of the Singapore Maritime Foundation.

SEA ASIA 2011, organized by Seatrade and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF), is set to be the largest edition yet with as many as 12,000 participants expected. The conference will feature the region’s leading industry voices, carrying the theme The Asian Voice in World Shipping. SEA ASIA 2011 is guided by an advisory panel of top figures from international shipping including Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao, CEO of BW Group, Capt. Wei Jia Fu, Group President and CEO of COSCO, and Mr Rune Bjerke, CEO of DnB NOR ASA.

The event is principally sponsored by DnB NOR Bank ASA, Lloyd’s Register and RightShip. Other sponsors include ABB Pte. Ltd., ABS, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), GAC, Ince & Co, Jurong Port, Keppel Offshore & Marine, MTM Ship Management, PSA, Shipserv and The Standard P&I Club.

For more information, visit Seatrade in Hall B5 stand number 410 at SMM in Hamburg or click on www.sea-asia.com