Posidonia lives its myth
Show’s success boosts confidence in shipping
11/6/2010
Even before the dismantling process of Posidonia 2010 exhibitors’ stands and pavilions begins, the organisers of the world’s biggest sea transportation event were inundated with requests for more floor space from Greek and international maritime companies eager to participate in the 23rd edition of the landmark seafaring fair scheduled for June 2012.
First time Posidonia exhibitor India and long-standing participants Korea and Holland are already in talks with the event’s organisers in order to secure additional square metres to facilitate increasing demand from their countries’ marine community. India alone, the recipient of the show’s best pavilion award, has already confirmed interest to increase its floor space from 300 square metres to a staggering 1,000 square metres for 2012. Also, a significant number of Greek companies have already committed their presence in the next Posidonia while complimenting this year’s event for its unprecedented success.
The global appeal of Posidonia 2010 is reflected in a pool of impressive numbers and important stakeholders who were among the event’s 18,000 visitors from 87 nations who attended the prestigious forum. A record 1,859 exhibitors participated in Posidonia 2010 across an area of 31,000 square metres which also saw a record 21 national pavilions.
And while Panama’s President, Ricardo Martinelli, toured the exhibition on the event’s penultimate day, his entourage was busy preparing the famous canal country’s official reception, one of the 138 events that comprised this year’s Posidonia social and networking calendar.
“I am not a politician,” he said addressing his 400 guests at a pool-side reception of the Divani Apollon Hotel. “I am a businessman who is here in Greece to meet with the world of shipping and identify business opportunities for my country,” he said.
And while Martinelli swapped his political hat for his entrepreneurial Panama, a galaxy of Greek and international politicians and diplomats honoured Posidonia 2010 with their presence throughout the week. Following Monday’s official opening ceremony presided over Minister of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Louka Katseli and attended by a plethora of Greek ministers and shadow ministers, Prime Minister George Papandreou visited the event later in the week accompanied by government spokesman George Petalotis. “The shipping industry is the strength of the Greek nation, a pillar for our development and the power of our voice to the international community as expressed through Posidonia, this major international maritime forum.
This year’s Posidonia is yet another example of our capabilities as a nation,” said Mr Papandreou.
Louka Katseli said: “For many decades Posidonia constitutes the main forum of the global maritime community which is dominated by Greece’s leading position that is characterized by its commitment to quality, credibility and responsibility.”
Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Development Georgios Pousseos said that Posidonia’s contribution to Greece’s MICE sector is vital both in terms of generating revenues for the local economy and as an image guardian for the country’s battered international reputation.
Opposition leader Adonis Samaras also paid a visit together with key members of his Nea Demokratia party. The US and Dutch Ambassadors to Greece were also among the diplomats who visited Posidonia with a mission to promote the commercial interests of their countries’ marine industry.
Addressing his guests during the networking event of Maritime Holland, Dutch Ambassador to Greece Kees van Rij said: “Some 300 members of Holland’s maritime community are in Athens this year on the occasion of the 22nd Posidonia. The Dutch pavilion is the largest ever in any Posidonia event testimony of the changing mood in global shipping which has already shown strong signs of recovery.”
The organisers of the Dutch delegation confirmed that they will also need an additional 150 square metres for their national pavilion in 2012 to meet projected demand growth. Hans van Doorn, Sales Manager of major Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam has already confirmed the company’s participation in two years. “We will certainly come back. We have been a loyal Posidonia exhibitor for decades as we believe this to be one of the world’s most important networking events for the marine industry and we will certainly be back in two years time,” said Doorn.
The Greek maritime community was also excited about the glitter and glamour of this year’s Posidonia which bucked the trend of Greece’s economic woes by putting together a spectacular show that sets new benchmarks in shipping networking affairs. George Gabriel, Deputy Chairman of Piraeus-based Golden Union described Posidonia as a networking institution designed to create ties between executives of the global maritime community. He said: “Posidonia is the world’s most important shipping event providing a platform to the best-of-breed maritime companies to network, discuss and conduct business while helping Greece to showcase its potential and promote its image and tourism attractions,” he said.
This undying love affair between Posidonia and the international maritime community is perhaps better encapsulated in the phrase of Steven Zhang, Deputy Manager, Repair & Conversion Department of China’s Cosco Shipyard Group.
“We highly appreciate the trust of the Greek maritime community to our services and we thank them for their constant project flow. Posidonia is where everything happens.”
Posidonia 2010 was sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping, the Municipality of Piraeus, the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the Union of Greek Shipowners, the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee, the Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association, the Association of Greek Passenger Shipping Companies and the Union of Marine Enterprises.
Source: Posidonia Events