The biennial Maritime China - the All China Maritime Conference & Exhibition - will open tomorrow (27 November 2007) at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).
Celebrating its 14th edition, the 2007 show will be the largest ever, breaking past records in terms of both the number of exhibitors and the exhibition space occupied.  With a 35% increase in the floor area from 2005, this year' s Marintec China will cover 36,500 square metres, taking up three halls of SNIEC plus an additional tented area. In all, more than 1,100 exhibiting companies from 30 countries/regions are here to showcase their latest innovative technologies in this rapidly expanding market.
Marintec China has become globally renowned as the event in Asia where major players in the international maritime industry come together to do business, conduct exchange, and share ideas and market views.  This is particularly pertinent today as China' s share in this business is growing exponentially, making the country not just an attractive market but also an important global maritime player. The shipbuilding industry worldwide is enjoying a period of rapid growth and China and the world share many common challenges, and have much to exchange in terms of know how, policies and practices.
This year, the organisers welcome a total of 17 national and regional pavilions, namely from Austria, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.  Once again, as the host country of Marintec China, Chinese companies will make up the largest national group, followed in size by the German Pavilion, which is the largest overseas pavilion in the exhibition.  They will be joined by exhibitors from Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
An additional opportunity for all participants of Marintec China 2007 to get the most up-to-date market and industry information lies in the Senior Maritime Forum, which, as in past years, will run concurrently with the exhibition.  This year's theme, "China's Economy and the Global Maritime Industry", demonstrates the close relationship between China's economic growth and evolution, and the shipbuilding and shipping industry worldwide.  The Forum is structured to enable the sharing, examination and discussion of information, technology, trends and visions.  It will be held on 27 and 28 November at the Renaissance Shanghai Pudong Hotel and will feature wide-ranging sessions that will cover many diverse and important areas of concern and interest.  Attendees at the Forum will also enjoy considerable networking opportunities with senior Chinese government officials and high-level executives from overseas trade associations and organisation.