Maldives Marine Expo 2015 opens in Male’

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The Maldives Marine Expo 2015, the official exhibition of the Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM), opened at the Dharubaaruge convention centre today.

Economic Development Minister Mohamed Saeed inaugurated the three-day exhibition at an opening ceremony this morning.

“We decided to hold an event called Maldives Marine Expo three years ago,” explained LAM President Ismail Hameed.

LAM enlisted BLAK Pvt Ltd – a multi-disciplinary creative agency – as event organisers and successfully conducted the first exhibition last year, he added.

“On behalf of the industry, we hope that the second event that this is starting today would bring progress and success to the marine industry,” Hameed said.

A group of safari boat owners formed LAM in 2007, he noted, expressing gratitude to private parties for their contribution to developing the industry.

In his remarks, Economic Development Minister Saeed stressed the importance of events like the marine expo for the domestic economy.

The Maldives was ripe for “an ocean economy,” the chief guest suggested, adding that the country had signed two important international maritime conventions last year.

The current administration has also formulated sound policies to resolve congestion issues at the commercial harbour, Saeed said.

Unprecedented opportunities were available for entrepreneurs interested in “floating tourism,” “liveaboard tourism,” or “business in the maritime sector,” he said.

Launching the ceremony, Event Director Ismail Husham meanwhile thanked the expo’s sponsors – the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), Marine Equipment, and Gulf Craft.

The event was co-sponsored by Alia Investments Pvt Ltd, Allied Insurance Company and The Hawks Pvt Ltd.

The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporations (MMPRC) is the official promoting partner of the event.

MMPRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BLAK to promote the exhibition at international travel fairs as well as through advertisements featured in their publications (Destination Guide and Visitor’s Guide) distributed at overseas events in order to achieve maximum exposure overseas.

Other partners of the event include M7 Print (Print Partner), Rhombus (Lifestyle Partner), MCB (Banking Partner), RAUCH (Beverage Partner), Pop Joy (Sound and Light Partner), and Dhi TV (Broadcasting Partner), Haveeru (News Partner).

The media partners are Hotelier Maldives, A N Associates, Floating Asia, and Discover Maldives.

According to BLAK, the exhibition offers a platform for stakeholders to explore profitable ventures, find top standard products and services, and to attract foreign companies to invest and contribute to the development of the Maldivian marine industry.

The marine expo is taking place from March 17 to 19 with 37 exhibitors occupying stall spaces in Ranna Bandeyri Maalan and Faashana Maalan as well as the outdoor spaces on Boduthakurufaanu Magu.

Exhibitors include AS Marine Maldives, Apollo Holdings, Atoll Biz, Damas Company, Dev Engineering, dTECh, Guarantee Fiberglass Fabrication, Hassan Marine Engineering Solutions, Ilaa Maldives, Marine Quest, Offshore Group, Sea Gear, Planton Investment and Seagull Group.

The exhibition also features a number of interactive and exciting marine-related activities, safety drills, and training programs for marine vocations as well as seminars and workshops on marine life and environmental issues.

The Maritime Academy of Maldives will be conducting awareness programs in relation to maritime safety and job scope in the local boating and yachting industry with the support from IYT Worldwide and Nautical Institute, UK. The academy will conduct International Yacht Training Courses and Power Boat Captain and Crew Training Courses at the exhibition.

The opening day’s events included the launching of the Mauritius Commercial Bank’s visa prepaid card and seminars by the Maldives Red Crescent, V.A.M Co Pvt Ltd, and the Maritime Academy.

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