Successful Outcomes for Maritime Companies in Saudi Arabia And UAE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014, KUALA LUMPUR: A recent Specialised Marketing Mission (SMM) by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) to Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) has generated RM1 billion in potential business for companies in the Maritime industry.
Sales worth RM700 million were generated in Dammam and RM300 million in Dubai. Business opportunities identified in the Maritime sector in the Middle East were in several fields including shipbuilding; ship repairing for a diverse range of ships such as chemical tankers, tug boats, taxi boats, yachts, harbour crafts, landing crafts, towing vessels, tug vessels, offshore support vessels and anchor handling tugs; ship design; ship charter and equipment supply as well as fabrication of oil and gas facility.
The promising sales were made possible through MATRADE’s effort in linking Malaysian companies with industry players in Saudi Arabia and UAE.
The SMM to Dammam and Dubai was participated by 15 Malaysian participants including Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Berhad, Hitech Powerhouse (Asia) Sdn Bhd, Gimhwak Shipyard Sdn Bhd, E Sheng Engineering &Trading Sdn Bhd, Neptune Asia Marine Sdn Bhd, Hung Seng Shipbuilding Sdn Bhd and Northport (M) Sdn Bhd.
The programme in Dammam included a roundtable session at the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI) followed by visits to shipyards including Al-Zamil Group Shipyard (the sole ship building company in Saudi Arabia), Al-Balagha Group Shipyard and King Abdulaziz Seaport Dammam.
The SMM to Dubai took place in conjunction with the Seatrade Middle East Maritime 2014 (SMEM) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. SMEM has established a strong position among Maritime players to develop business opportunities for a wide range of Maritime services and products. SMEM is a biennial event and is the largest of its kind in the region. It opens the doors for Malaysian Maritime players in connecting with the industry’s players from Bahrain, Central Asia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar as well as the Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Maritime is recognised as a high-potential strategic industry and serves high-value sectors such as Oil and Gas, Logistics, Lifestyle (luxury vessels, hotel boats, just to name a few), Electrical and Electronics. Malaysian Maritime business operators are encouraged to leverage on the endless business opportunities in Maritime by participating in MATRADE’s promotional programmes. MATRADE will be organising the next Specialised Marketing Missions on Maritime Industry to Myanmar & Thailand (December 2014), Singapore in conjunction with Sea Asia (April 2015) and UAE & Oman in conjunction with Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboat (October 2015). For Malaysian companies that are interested to join the events, please visit www.matrade.gov.my or contact us at +603 6207 7077.
