Dubai Chamber Trade Mission Leaves for Germany

A Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry-led trade mission will leave for Hamburg to participate in the 25th edition of the Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology (SMM 2012 Expo). The event is being held in the strategic Germany city from September 4 to 7 and will give delegates an opportunity to meet top officials of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and leading German businessmen. The trade mission is led by Hisham Al Shirawi, 2nd Vice Chairman, and Dubai Chamber. With over 2,000 exhibitors and more than 50,000 trade visitors from all over the world, the SMM International Trade Fair is the leading event for the international maritime industry, and is an ideal platform to see innovations in the maritime sector.

The delegates participating in the trade mission include Bader Mohammed Obaid Bin Mubarak, Deputy Director, Dubai Shipbuilding '&' Engineering LLC, Capt. Gary Dockerty, Executive General Manager, Middle East and Africa of P'&'O Maritime, Mrs. Kirsten Staab, Director of Hamburg Representative Office, Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman, Drydocks World and Maritime World, Dr. Markus Voege, Vice President - Operation '&' Production, Drydocks World and Maritime World, and Peter Wilkes, Regional Manager, Middle East of P'&'O Maritime, as well as Hassan Al Hashemi, Director of External Relations, Dubai Chamber.

Before his departure to Hamburg, Al Shirawi informed that the main objective of this trade mission was to help Dubai companies network with business leaders in shipbuilding, machinery and marine technology while also to promote Dubai's maritime industry and the emirate's strategic location as an international trade and transshipment hub to a worldwide audience. He said, "Dubai Chamber will work through this trade mission to strengthen its existing relationship with the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce which is amongst our closest global partners and we look forward to continued cooperation with them in the future.

" On his part, Fritz Horst Melsheimer, President, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, said that with approximately 400,000 employees and an import-export volume of about 64 billion euros, the maritime industry is one of Germany's most well-established and important industries, stating that there is enormous potential for cooperation between Dubai and Hamburg as the strategic German city's experience in offshore technology and wind energy is fitting and is in accordance with Dubai's maritime industry. He further stated that there was ample potential for joint cooperation in educating and training maritime professionals as he expressed the hope that the Dubai Chamber delegation's visit to Hamburg and SMM 2012 will further intensify the links between the two cities and will also provide new business contacts to the delegates.

Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman, Drydocks World and Maritime World, said: "Our participation in SMM 2012 will allow us to enhance our global reputation in the maritime industry as we will be meeting global maritime leaders with whom we will share our experiences and learn more about the persisting innovations, perceptions and changes in laws affecting the industry. As this goes in line with our strategic approach of achieving sustainable growth while attracting businesses to Drydocks World as well as providing opportunities for our partners in heavy maritime sector which will ultimately help in the development of the sector in Maritime World.

"This is also our opportunity to consolidate our ties with German business leaders as we look forward to enhanced cooperation between Dubai and Hamburg, which are both global role models in adopting eco-friendly solutions in the maritime industry," he said adding, "We recently started the construction of the world's largest offshore wind-powered platform, DolWin beta, which will draw energy from a wind farm cluster in the German sector of the North Sea.”This is one of the many joint projects between the UAE and Germany as we expect best results from this cooperation to maximise resources in the areas of heavy marine industry and maritime business development between the two countries," the Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World said.