Al Fajer partners 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 revolution in the region

Doha, November 25, 2007: Al Fajer Information and Services, a leading organiser of industry expositions in Middle East, Africa and India, today announced its partnership with Ahoy Rotterdam to host the third edition of the Ship & Port + Europort Maritime 2008, the International Ship Building, Port and Marine Technology Exhibition in Doha, Qatar.

The three-day Ship & Port + Europort Maritime is scheduled to be held at the brand new Qatar International Exhibition Centre in Doha from May 5 - 7, 2008. The expo is organised under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, Minister of State, Government of Qatar.

Over the years, Europort Maritime, a property of Ahoy Rotterdam, has become a benchmark of specialised knowledge and technology in the field of maritime design and preventive maintenance. This is a distinctive position, which particularly for Western Europe is unique within the spectrum of maritime trade fairs.

Established in 1972, the Dubai-headquartered Al Fajer Information and Services is the brand owner of several leading industry expositions in the region. Its exhibition portfolio includes Autumn Trade Fair, Spring Trade Fair, Machine Tools, WIRE, Moldex, Inter-Weld, Woodmex & Garmentex, Arabplast, Al Fares, Transexpo and Paper Arabia

Commenting on his organisation’s partnership with Europort Maritime, Mr. Satish Khanna, General Manager, Al Fajer Information and Services, said: "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".

Qatar is a key hub for shipping, port and maritime industry offering innumerable opportunities for the development of this business in the region. It presents the ideal ground to host Ship & Port + Europort Maritime. The previous edition of the expo witnessed tremendous success in Qatar, setting a new revolution in the Middle East.

Partnered by two big industry forces Ship & Port + Europort Maritime sets ground for showcasing the latest in products and services related to the accelerating maritime industry in the Middle East and Asia.

Europort Maritime exhibition manager Peter Niemantsverdriet said: “We expect a greater response in 2008 with over 96.6 per cent 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.”

The visitors at the Ship & Port + Europort Maritime, 2008, 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 Qatar Port Authority is the principal sponsor of Ship & Port + Europe Maritime. The new event is co-sponsored by Qatar Navigation and Radio Holland.

About Al Fajer Information & Services

The Dubai-based Al Fajer Information & Services is a pioneer in organising industrial exhibitions in and around the Middle East region, especially in the UAE, Qatar, India, Kenya, South Africa. Al Fajer has strategic alliances with Messe Dusseldorf, Messe IMAG, an international arm of Messe Munich, and Confederation of Indian Industry for organising several industrial shows. Its exhibition profile includes Dubai Autumn Trade Fair, Dubai Spring Trade Fair, ARABPLAST, TECHNO-Industrial Machinery, WIREARABIA, Tube Arabia, Paper Arabia, Al Fares- Equine Trade Fair, SME Expo, Watch & Jewellary Expo, Transexpo, Digital Arabia, Auto Parts East Africa, and Autoparts South Africa.

About Europort Maritime

Europort Maritime has become a benchmark of specialised knowledge and technology in the field of maritime design and preventive maintenance. This is a distinctive position which particularly for Western Europe, is unique within the spectrum of maritime trade fairs. The 2007 edition of the trade fair focuses a great deal of attention on the expertise on hand in the Dutch maritime cluster, with an emphasis on complex shipbuilding. This includes the construction of short sea vessels, tugs, patrol vessels, mega-yachts, dredgers, offshore suppliers, LNG tankers, heavy transport ships and high performance inland navigation vessels. This way, Europort Maritime is responding to the increasing worldwide demand for these types of ships. At the same time, the trade fair offers insight into the most affordable locations in the world for the construction and dismantlement of these ships.

For further information, please contact: