Sea Asia 2009

Sea Asia 2009: Opportunities in a Crisis –
Region’s iconic event bucks economic downturn, increases 60% in size

That is what the Chinese would say in the challenging times we face today: there are opportunities to be found in a crisis.  Accordingly, this month, Sea Asia 2009 will show Singapore and the maritime world that such opportunities not only exist but can be identified and captialised upon even in the current economic climate.

Sea Asia 2009 will feature a major international exhibition exceeding 4,500 net square metres – 60% up on the previous event in 2007. With many event organisers downsizing or even cancelling shows due to the financial downturn, co-organisers Seatrade and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) are naturally overwhelmed by the positive response from local and global companies not only participating but, in many cases, actually ramping up their presence at this year’s Sea Asia.

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.

“Sea Asia 2009 will be staged against the backdrop of a difficult economic setting but we are optimistic that Asia will play an even more critical role in shipping once we have tide over this challenging phase.  Sea Asia 2009 is timely as it will serve as the platform for global maritime leaders to congregate and share insights about how to confront these challenges and strategise on riding the next wave,” said Mr S.S. Teo, Chairman, Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF).

Themed ‘The Asian Voice in World Shipping: Clearer & Stronger’, the opening session of the conference will focus on the crucial bulk trades.  Chairing the session will be Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao, CEO of BW Maritime.  He will be joined on the panel by a who’s who of bulk shipping players.  On the agenda: the outlook for the major bulk trades, both dry and liquid, and how the forward orderbook for newbuildings will affect things between ship suppliers and shipping services.

The ‘Asian Voice’ theme will continue with a look at the container shipping & logistics sector in a session chaired by Mr S.S. Teo, Chairman, SMF (also MD of Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd and President of the Singapore Shipping Association). The panel will examine how the global economic outlook is affecting liner trades, both inter-continental and intra-Asian, and what this means for container ship operators, cargo interests, ports and terminals.

Branching into the offshore markets, the ‘Asian Voice’ theme in that session will be anchored by Mr Choo Chiau Beng, CEO, Keppel Corporation and Chairman, Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited.  In it, industry heavyweights will deal with a range of topics such as oil price volatility, its impact on exploration in Asian waters, and the state of the orderbook for drill ships.

With such pivotal issues in the spotlight, and other topics on financing, emissions, ship building, chartering, crewing, communications, LNG Shipping and marine insurance, it is no wonder that Asia’s top maritime executives will headline the event.  These include Mr Eng Aik Meng, President of APL; Mr Lionel Lee, Managing Director, Ezra Holdings Limited; Mr Hiroyuki Maekawa, President & CEO, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd and President, Japanese Shipowners’ Association; Kuah Boon Wee, CEO, Southeast Asia & Singapore Terminals, PSA International; Mr Zhang Jian Wei, Executive Director and President, Sinotrans Limited; Mr Li Zhen, Assistant President, Sinotrans Shipping Limited; and Mr Kenneth Khoo, Group Chairman & CEO, Tai Chong Cheang Steamship Co (HK) Ltd.

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.

As an anchor event of Singapore Maritime Week, Sea Asia 2009 offers an added boost to Singapore’s development as a maritime thought capital and centre for major international maritime events. 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. Organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Singapore Maritime Week started in 2006 with 2,900 participants. It rose to 4,500 in 2007, and exceeded 6,000 in 2008. It is expected to draw an even bigger crowd this year because of the timeliness and industry relevance of issues to be discussed

“With the strong support we have received, I am optimistic that despite the economic climate Sea Asia 2009 is going to be a success. 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.  There will certainly be no shortage of industry experts at Sea Asia 2009 to discuss how shipping can best navigate its way out of current difficulties, and to help make good on Sea Asia's mission to articulate The Asian Voice: Clearer and Stronger,” said Mr Christopher Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade.

ENDS

Appendix
Sea Asia 2009 Conference Programme 
ABOUT SEATRADE
For over 30 years, Seatrade has been a leading maritime publisher and international events organiser. Headquartered in UK, Seatrade publishes Seatrade magazine and Seatrade Cruise Review plus bespoke supplements.

Seatrade’s family of conferences and exhibitions has grown in strength and number over the years.  Its signature exhibition and conference event in this region, SEA ASIA (co-organised with the Singapore Maritime Foundation), takes place once every two years.

With an increasing presence in Asia, Seatrade opened a Representative Office in Singapore in 2006.For more information about Seatrade’s evolving portfolio of publications and events, visit www.seatrade-global.com.

ABOUT SMF
The Singapore Maritime Foundation is a private sector-led organisation established to develop and promote Singapore as an International Maritime Centre (IMC).

Established in 2004, the Foundation seeks to work in partnership with the different sectors of the maritime industry to advance the maritime interests of Singapore through collaborations and events.  Some of the notable projects include the inaugural collaboration with Seatrade, Sea Asia, the iconic maritime event which has received overwhelming response from the industry players, both in Singapore and overseas, the MaritimeONE (Outreach Network) an initiative that seeks to heighten awareness of the maritime industry, the maritime professionals, the exciting career opportunities and boost recruitment into this booming industry. 
For details, visit www.smf.com.sg.

For more information, please contact Helix Media, public relations consultants to Seatrade for SEA ASIA 2009.
Edward Ion:  +65 6222 6375
Mobile: +65 9111 6871
Email: edward.ion@helixmedia.asia
Website: www.helixmedia.asia