Europort Istanbul Brings Global Maritime Industry Together In Turkey

The Turkish economy is picking up and went through a growth spurt (+9%) in 2010. Turkish shipbuilding is also constantly developing. Moreover, Turkey’s banks are stable, its workforce is capable, its ports are prepared and its entrepreneurs are hungry. This offers ample opportunity for non-Turkish maritime companies to establish new contacts and do business. With more than 200 exhibitors from 30 countries Europort Istanbul 2011 brings the global maritime industry together in Turkey. New on the coming edition are the Super Yacht Route, the Turkish Shipyards Square and the opening conference Mare Forum Istanbul.

Strong recovery Turkish shipbuilding industry

With its unique geo-politic location among the nations of the world, Turkey has a great importance at a spot where the maritime industry opens to the Middle-East, Central Asia, the Orient and Eastern Mediterranean. The constant growth observed in the Turkish economy has also reflected upon the maritime industry. Important events have occurred in the Maritime Trade industry so far and further good news is expected to be heard from the Shipbuilding industry in 2012. Having quickly recovered from the losses it has suffered in the global economic crisis, the Turkish shipbuilding industry has recently inclined towards the construction of complex ships and the fields of repair, maintenance and overhaul. Turkey, where the growing industries of shipbuilding and supplying have triggered an increasing need for expertise in finance and logistics sectors, was ranked 5th globally in terms of ship and yacht building prior to the global economic crisis. The number of shipyards active at the industry has climbed from 40 to 107 and along with ongoing investments, the latter number reaches 175.

Ambitious targets

Being one of the countries with the greatest number of outstanding orders for new ships to be built, Turkey is currently handling shipbuilding orders worth more than 10 billion dollars. Being active in the global competition in the shipbuilding field, Turkey is also ranked 3rd in the field of repair and overhaul, right after Bulgaria and Romania. Having a high potential in terms of access to funding and transportation; Turkey is reflecting its strength in the field by having a clean record in terms of company losses. The number of orders that has increased as a result of the developments observed in the Turkish maritime industry, along with the import and export figures that exceed expectations, also reflect the economic growth of the industry. Within the context of these improvements, the export objective of Turkey for the year 2023 is set at 15 billion dollars. The 11th edition of Europort Istanbul 2011 is among the primary international commercial platforms that will support the Turkish and global maritime industry with new commercial agreements and new orders.

Broad-ranging exhibition program

Europort Istanbul 2011 hosts over 200 domestic and foreign companies from 30 countries representing 600 brands. The broad international interest for the exhibition is reflected in the participation of individual companies from a.o. Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. China, Korea , Romania and The Netherlands will be present with a national pavilion.
The newest technologies, products and services will debut in the exhibition which will help forge new alliances and which offers the most reasonable opportunities to visitors that wish to take their share of benefit from the improvement of the maritime sector.

New: Super Yacht Route and Turkish Shipyards Square

The super yacht industry, which is one of the growing markets in the Turkish Maritime Sector, will have prominent attention at the exhibition floor. Europort Istanbul 2011 will present a special “Super Yacht Route” that will highlight suppliers to the sector.

Another new feature at Europort Istanbul is the Turkish Shipyards Square in Hall 10.

Official national and international support

Europort Istanbul 2011 will be held at the Istanbul Expo Center from 23 tot 26 March. The exhibition is organized by NTSR and Ahoy Rotterdam in exclusive cooperation with DTO, the Turkish Chamber of Shipping. It is supported by domestic organizations like IMEAK Maritime Chamber of Commerce, Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Undersecretariat of Maritime Affairs, Association of Ship Industrialists, and KOSGEB (Head Office for Administration of Support and Development Operations in small and medium sized businesses). The exhibition is also supported by international organizations like Holland Marine Equipment (HME), British Marine Equipment Association (BMEA), Romanian Shipbuilders Association (ANCONAV), French Naval & Maritime Industry Group (GICAN), The Association of Norwegian Maritime Exporters (NME) and Busan Economic Promotion Agency (BEPA) from Korea.