Ningbo Special: Insiders to plot course for marine industry

East China's Zhejiang province plans to sign more than 70 agreements, with a total combined investment of 120 billion yuan ($18.9 billion), during the second China Marine Economy Investment Fair, which is to be held in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, from Sept 15 to 17.

The themes of the event are promoting marine science and technologies, and strengthening the modern marine industry. Sponsored by the State Oceanic Administration and the Zhejiang provincial government, the investment fair will take place at the China International Convention and Exhibition Center in the coastal city.

Many senior government officials will co-chair the fair, including Xia Baolong, governor of the Zhejiang provincial government, and Liu Cigui, deputy director of the State Oceanic Administration.

What makes the fair special this year is not only the prestige of its participants but also its diversified content.

It combines the second China Marine Economy and Investment Fair, the eighth China Marine Forum and the first China (South) International Seafood Expo.

Activities such as high-level forums, project workshops and marine science and technology communication will be held after the opening ceremony of the fair.

With investment negotiations, exhibitions and forums, this year's fair will fully demonstrate the marine economy, technology and products.

Attendees will be able to communicate and discuss measures for the development of specific sectors of the marine economy.

As many as three exhibition halls spanning a total area of 20,000 square meters will be reserved at the exhibition center for the marine fair.

Exhibition

The first exhibition hall will be a museum of Chinese marine economy at the national level, which will highlight the most advanced aspects of China's marine industry, oceanic science and technology, and seapower safeguarding.

A model of the 981 drilling platform, designed and built by China, as well as a model of the "Jiaolong" manned submarine will be shown at the national museum.

The second exhibition hall will hold pavilions for coastal Chinese provinces and seven cities. Advanced achievements from coastal provinces and cities, such as Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong, and Qingdao will be represented at the second hall.

The only national-level port marine high-tech industrial zone, located in Shanghai, will lead the special equipment exhibition for Shanghai, and the Binhai New Area, a national economic development zone in Tianjin, will represent that city. And some highly anticipated archaeological achievements from a sunken ship will be exhibited at the Ningbo Pavilion.

In addition, many yacht companies will also host exhibits in the second hall, and some will promote their most advanced seaplanes.

The third exhibition hall will host the China (South) International Seafood Expo, which features a comprehensive display of various aquatic products, refrigeration equipment and technologies, aquatic products preservation technologies and equipment, fishing boats, fishing gear, and fish feeding products.

The seafood expo will be a good opportunity for retailers and agents to seek more partnership and cooperation as well as new products and resources from home and abroad.

The China Aquatic Products Processing and Marketing Association selected 10 leading companies to attend the expo. The Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences will also bring the latest aquaculture research results to the expo.

Sea-related companies from the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong special administrative region are expected to contribute more than 10 percent of the total number of attendees.

The whole fair is market-oriented, which encourages many sea-related companies to participate.

Those exhibitors will represent their high-end and high-tech marine products and actively promote marine scientific and technological achievements, which are good for upgrading and transforming China's marine industry.

During the eighth China Marine Forum, more than 200 domestic and foreign participants, including national ministers, senior governors from coastal provinces and cities, experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs, will join the discussion about the development of China's modern marine economy as well as the development and protection of islands.

Chinese marine experts and academicians will present the results of their latest investigations and studies issued by the State Oceanic Administration.

Compared to the previous fair, when only two marine economic pilot provinces - Shandong and Guangdong - were invited, this year's exhibition will provide space and opportunities for more Chinese coastal provinces and cities, such as Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong and Qingdao.

Meanwhile, a number of Fortune 500 companies, State-owned enterprises and private companies will participate in the fair, which makes the exhibition a more influential and high-level event.

There is also a special arrangement for exchanges among marine science and technology professionals during the fair. The fair organizing committee will invite some experts, scholars and organizations involved in the marine industry to carry out a series of academic discussions and experience showcases.

The series of forums focuses on the development and protection of the ocean.

Three major topics will be discussed separately from Sept 15 to 18 - "Technical innovation in marine industry and personnel training", "Development and personnel training in the international shipping and logistics industry" and "Building a sustainable growth marine economy in China".

After the fair, a recruitment event for professionals in marine industries will also be held from Sept 21 to 25.

Contact the writers at tangyaochang@chinadaily.com.cn and zhaoyanrong@chinadaily.com.cn