INTERNATIONAL FAR EASTERN MARITIME SHOW RESULTS
The International Far Eastern Maritime Show, held from 26 to 28 July on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island, came to a close in Vladivostok. More than 1000 people from Russia and countries of the Asia-Pacific region took part in preparing and carrying out the event. Representatives of 21 countries were involved in the Show’s business and cultural programmes and outdoor events. IFEMS 2018 was organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. IFEMS 2018 was initiated by the head of Primorye Territory, Andrei Tarasenko, and was operated by the Roscongress Foundation.
IFEMS 2018 participants discussed relevant issues such as the development of shipbuilding, infrastructure, and logistics. A separate block of events was devoted to instruments of industry regulation. Guests of the Show took part in live discussions about the use of digital technologies, ship tracking, and blockchain. More than 15 business events took place at the International Far Eastern Maritime Show.
“No other country in the world has as much potential in the shipbuilding industry as Russia. The first maritime show in Vladivostok put on full display the potential and opportunities for domestic civil shipbuilding and ship repair, navigation, and port infrastructure. This event literally ‘dropped anchor’ in the Far East, a fact confirmed by the large number of meetings, negotiations, and the first agreements concluded at IFEMS 2018. I am confident that in the future, industry experts will come to Vladivostok to participate in the Show on a regular basis,” adviser to the President of the Russian Federation Anton Kobyakov said.
IFEMS 2018 participants focused on issues related to the work of the Zvezda shipbuilding dockyard, the largest enterprise of its kind in Russia, under construction in the city of Bolshoy Kamen. The plant will be able to build and service the largest ships in the country, including large-capacity vessels, in the nearest future, which will make it possible for Russia to enter the international market and compete with Asian and European shipbuilding corporations.
“The International Far Eastern Maritime Show is of great importance to the development of the domestic shipbuilding cluster and related industries in the Russian Far East. The choice of Vladivostok as a venue for the event opens up opportunities for cooperation and integration with partners from the Asia-Pacific region, who have shown a marked interest in innovations in Russian shipbuilding and technologies in ocean development and the development of the Arctic,” Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov emphasized.
“The International Far Eastern Maritime Show is an event which proves once again that Russia is a major player in the global shipbuilding industry. I am convinced that the Show will have a positive impact on the development on the Russian Far East as a whole, as well as being an excellent platform for developing business ties,” Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Oleg Ryazantsev said.
The National Technological Initiative MariNet Conference and an NTI MariNet Far Eastern Subgroup Open Session were held at the International Far Eastern Maritime Show. Participants had the unique opportunity to discuss the latest technologies employed in shipbuilding, including robotic, laser, and neural network technologies.
Special attention was paid to the shipbuilding industry labour pool. Several important problems exist in this area: a general lack of personnel, a shortage of specialists in remote regions of the country and small towns, a discrepancy between training programmes and the requirements of potential employers. In this regard, the participants discussed breakthrough civil technologies and personnel capable of developing these technologies. In addition, throughout the Salon, the main part of the youth business program was held at the “Ot Vinta” stand, where representatives of specialized maritime educational institutions, scientific laboratories, academic circles and opinion leaders met, and a presentation of young engineers' projects was held.
In addition to the business programme, Show participants also had the opportunity to visit the exhibition programme: in an area of 1200 square meters, leading companies such as United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC, Far Eastern Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Centre JSC, Admiralty Shipyards JSC, Baltiysky Zavod JSC, A.M. Gorky Zelenodolsky Zavod JSC, Eastern Shipyard JSC, Era JSC, Zvezda Shipbuilding Company LLC, and Armalit JSC among others.
A diverse cultural programme was prepared for residents and guests of Vladivostok and Primorye Territory. Eight ships and vessels were opened to the public: a Grachonok series cruiser, the survey vessel Victor Faleev, the corvette Perfect, the training sailboats Pallada and Nadezhda, an ice class tanker RN Sakhalin, a Pacifico Adventure 72 cruiser, and the Pacifico Cruise 120 catamaran built at the shipyards in Primorye. Ships and vessels participating in the International Far Eastern Maritime Show were moored to the piers of the Pacific Fleet.
The International Far Eastern Maritime Show and its participants proved that Russia is a recognized leader in international shipbuilding. The fact that an industry event of this caliber has been held here is a momentous occasion for the whole Asia-Pacific region and has laid the foundation for the development of the Russian Far East as a centre for the attraction of high technologies and professional personnel.
The next major event in Vladivostok will be held from 11 to 13 September. On the campus site of the Far Eastern Federal University on the Russian Island will be the IV Eastern Economic Forum.
The official website of the Forum: www.forumvostok.ru.
