Al Fajer Information and Services has partnered with Ahoy Rotterdam to host the region’s largest maritime expo in Doha.

The third edition of Ship & Port + Europort Maritime 2008 - the International Ship Building, Port and Marine Technology Exhibition - will mark the beginning of a new trend in the region, the organisers said in a statement.

Concurrently, the Central Dredging Association (CEDA) will hold its first conference in Asia, they added.

The expo, organised under the patronage of Qatari Minister of State Sheikh Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, will be held at Qatar International Exhibition Centre in Doha from May 5-7, 2008.

“It gives us immense pleasure to be associated with Europort Maritime, which is considered as an industry power house for the maritime industry. We are certain that our partnership will bring unparalleled levels of professionalism in boosting this industry further on a global scale,” said Al Fajer Information and Services General Manager Satish Khanna.

“We expect a greater response in 2008 with large number of the previous years participants already confirmed for a repeat involvement. This show will offer an excellent opportunity to encourage the growth of the maritime industry in Qatar and the Middle East region, where major multi-billion dollar maritime projects are under way,” said Europort Maritime Exhibition Manager Peter Niemantsverdriet.

The Central Dredging Association (CEDA) will hold its first-ever Conference in Asia in concurrence to Ship & Port + Europort Maritime in 2008. The CEDA Dredging Conference will be addressed by industry experts and movers and shakers from the dredging industry. CEDA is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental, professional society based Netherlands. It provides a forum for all those involved in activities related to dredging and who live or work in Europe, Africa or the Middle-East.

The visitors at the Ship & Port + Europort Maritime have been carefully drawn out logically from the industry verticals including Ship building, Port Authorities & Operators, LNG & Oil Professionals, Ship Owners, Ship Suppliers & Distributors, Shipping Agents, Logistics Companies, Freight Forwarders, Infrastructure Developers and Consultants, the organisers said.

The Qatar Port Authority is the principal sponsor of Ship & Port + Europe Maritime. The new event is co-sponsored by Qatar Navigation and Radio Holland. – TradeArabia News Service