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Indian shipbuilders explore new markets, boosted by a 30% govt. subsidy on new orders
Indian participation doubles at coming Gulf Maritime exhibition, with participation from major Indian shipbuilders
Sharjah, UAE:
The Indian government has recently embarked on a policy of providing a 30% subsidy to both private and state-owned Indian shipbuilders on orders for ocean-going vessels placed with the shipyards, to boost the competitiveness of Indian shipbuilders.
Armed with this comparative advantage, Indian shipbuilders have started actively exploring new markets. This trend is evident in the doubling of the Indian participation at the second edition of Gulf Maritime, to be held from 19 to 21 April 2004 at Expo Centre Sharjah, compared to the show?s first edition.
Major Indian shipbuilders such as ABG Shipyards, Bharati Shipyards, Chowgule & Company Ltd., and Mech Marine have confirmed their participation, besides participation from maritime companies such as Hitech Elastomers Ltd. and IRM Offshore & Marine Engrs from India.
?The Middle East maritime industry has been growing at a remarkable rate,? said Mr. Fasahat Ali Khan, Deputy Director General of Expo Centre Sharjah, ?with orders for new ships and vessels continually on the rise. Participating at the coming Gulf Maritime exhibition is a good move on the part of the Indian shipbuilders, who can hope to take back with them some of these new orders.
?In the face of stricter environment rules and regulations being enforced in Europe and elsewhere for the maritime industry,? continued Mr. Khan, ?India enjoys a strategic advantage when it comes to ship building and repairing. The country?s favourable location, low labour costs and abundant supply of skilled manpower all have been contributing to making ship building and repairing a profitable business down there.
?Gulf Maritime, being the Middle East?s only exhibition covering the complete commercial, government and military maritime industry, will be an excellent opportunity for these Indian shipbuilders to highlight their ship repairing services in this region as well,? Mr. Khan concluded.
On 20th April, the second day of Gulf Maritime, Mr. Ashok Chowgule, Chairman and Managing Director of Chowgule & Company Ltd. will present a paper on the ?Capabilities of the Indian Ship Building Industry? as part of the series of industry seminars that will be conducted on the sidelines of the show.
Indian shipbuilders are, in fact, not the only one who are capitalising on the opportunities presented by Gulf Maritime. The exhibition will be bringing under its roof, perhaps for the first time in this region, some 20 prominent shipbuilders from across the globe. They include Austal Ships, Australian Shipbuilders Association and Tenix Defence Pty Ltd from Australia; Arvandan Shipbuilding Co., Marine Industries Group from Iran; Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard from Bahrain; J.Al Omani & Partners Fibreglass from Kuwait; Batservice Holding ASA from Norway; Armon Shipyard, Balenciaga S.A Shipyard, Rodman Polyships SA and Zamakona Shipyard from Spain; Colombo Dockyard Limited from Sri Lanka; Damen Shipyards Group and Shipyard K Damen from the Netherlands; Sanmar Ltd from Turkey; Al Hareb Marine, Dubai Drydocks, Dubai Ship Docking Yard (Al Jadaf), Gulf Craft, Pioneer Smith, Riviera Boat Middle East and Seaspray Aluminium Boats Emirates from the UAE & Muhibbah Marine Engineering from Malaysia.
Jointly organized by Expo Centre Sharjah and Baird Publications of Australia, Gulf Maritime features the latest in design, building and equipping of all types of vessels from fishing, offshore support vessels, tankers, tugs, ferries, patrol boats and all types of cargo ships, ship repair and port operations products & services and cargo handling.
The show brings face-to-face government authorities, decision makers, ship owners, ship chandlers, service providers, traders, marine engineers and all the relevant professionals in the maritime industry.
The coming 2nd edition of Gulf Maritime is all set to be bigger by at least 30%, with confirmed participation from 110 exhibitors from 22 countries.
The show will be open everyday from 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm from 19 to 21 April 2004.
For further information:
EXPO CENTRE Sharjah
info@expo-centre.ae
http://www.expo-centre.ae
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