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Opportunities Amid the Storm: A Timely Focus for Singapore Maritime Week 2009

The fourth Singapore Maritime Week (18-24 April) is due to commence tomorrow with a wide spectrum of conferences, forums and business networking events revolving around timely strategies for weathering the economic downturn and positioning for the upturn.

Further establishing Singapore's importance and growth as a major maritime thought capital, Singapore Maritime Week 2009 will be attended by top political and industry leaders, who will share insights on the current economic challenges and discuss topical issues centred on the environment and maritime security.

"Despite the challenging economic climate, this year's Singapore Maritime Week has garnered very good response and support from the maritime community," said MPA chief executive BG (NS) Tay Lim Heng. "The number of events has grown to 21, from last year's 19, and we also expect more participants than before. This demonstrates Singapore's growing role as a host for major maritime events and our development as a leading international maritime centre."

Delivering keynote addresses at various high-level conferences are Professor S Jayakumar, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security; Mr Raymond Lim, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs; and Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport.

As a well-respected voice in the business community, BW Group chairman Dr Helmut Sohmen will deliver the 3rd Singapore Maritime Lecture (21 April), speaking about the current business climate and his take on strategies to help the shipping industry strengthen itself for future challenges.

Also among the week's line-up of distinguished speakers are the chiefs of industry associations, including BIMCO Secretary-General Mr Torben Skaanild, INTERTANKO managing director Mr Peter Swift, International Chamber of Shipping Secretary-General Mr Tony Mason, Hong Kong Shipowners' Association chairman Mr Peter Cremers, and Baltic Exchange chief executive officer Mr Jeremy Penn.

Inaugural events this year include the Singapore Maritime Week Regatta (18 April) at Raffles Marina, a charity event to raise funds for the Singapore Disability Sports Council. Flagging off the regatta is Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport.

Meanwhile, exhibition space for the new Singapore Maritime Week anchor event, Sea Asia 2009 Conference & Exhibition (21-23 April), has grown from around 2,900 sq-metres in 2007 to more than 4,600 sq-metres this year, with about 350 exhibiting companies from 27 countries. There are also seven country pavilions from China, Korea, Norway, Japan, UK, Panama and Singapore.

"Singapore Maritime Foundation and our co-organiser, Seatrade, have been working very closely with Singapore maritime players, including MPA, to organise Sea Asia 2009," said Singapore Maritime Foundation executive director Mr David Chin. "We are confident this mega event will be a great success."

"As Singapore's iconic maritime event, Singapore Maritime Week has clearly come of age, contributing towards Singapore's development as a leading international maritime centre and, in particular, a maritime thought capital and venue for major maritime events," added the MPA.