Opportunities in Africa is one of the themes for Nor-Shipping 2017. In helping to promote this interest at the end of July 2016 Nor-Shipping hosted and facilitated an Ocean Industry Podium and roundtable meeting in the South African port of Port Elizabeth, as part of the South African Maritime Industry & Investment Conference, entitled Oceans Techonomy.

Following the launch of the African Union’s first integrated maritime strategy in 2015, the Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050, South Africa identified Norway as one of the top three countries for strategic partnerships on cluster development and capacity building.

Nor-Shipping 2017 will include the first Africa@Nor-Shipping programme, creating a customised and value-adding business and networking platform for companies and investors focusing on, or operating in, the Africa sub-Saharan region.

According to Nor-Shipping: “We have a strong belief in the 21st century being Africa’s century, and that the development potential will require strong and sustainable partnerships with leading maritime clusters and actors from other continents. Establishing good dialogues and partnerships with the right regional and local business partners is a key for creating future success and growth.”

Africa@Nor-Shipping will be a week-long programme customised to gather and connect the most attractive business partners, facilitating a platform for leading European and African industry players to investigate and discuss business opportunities in what is the second biggest growth market in the world.

The co-operation is linked to Nor-Shipping’s Ocean Industry programme. Besides the commercial and technical focus, the agreement also commits both parties to collaborate on initiatives promoting female leaders and the next generation, with a strong attention towards sustainability-related opportunities.

The Africa@Nor-Shipping concept will take forward what was a new feature at Nor-Shipping 2015, the Brazil@Nor-Shipping programme that featured presentations, industry sessions, a legal seminar and social activities enabling delegates to gain an insight into the risks and rewards of doing business in Brazil, something that has come very much into focus with recent developments in that country.

The Women@Nor-Shipping Waves of Change Conference at Nor-Shipping 2015 was intended to present a prominent platform for women in the maritime industry, and this theme will also be moved forward at Nor-Shipping 2017.

The Nor-Shipping 2015 event marked its 50th anniversary of the first maritime show in Oslo. It included several innovations, most notably the Ocean Industry Podium, providing an arena for presentation and debate in one hour sessions, on topics covering maritime technology, finance, insurance and law. It attracted 1,950 delegates. Another successful feature that will be continued was the Ocean Talent Camp, held in central Oslo, aimed at attracting young people’s interest in the maritime industry. It attracted 10,250 teachers and students during the Nor-Shipping week.

According to Nor-Shipping, the 2015 event attracted 32,300 delegates and visitors, a rise of 4.5 per cent from the previous show in 2013, with 972 companies exhibiting and 20 national pavilions.

Nor-Shipping 2017 will build on the Waves of Change conference in 2015 that was held in co-operation with the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (Wista). In supporting greater diversity and leadership for the future Nor-Shipping has introduced a new initiative in the run up to Nor-Shipping 2017, aimed at “promoting our industry’s most successful and dynamic female power players, and to inspire our industry to further develop the financial and operational opportunities by attracting and utilising the best brains world-wide in the quest for future prosperity and growth. It also aims to motivate aspiring leaders.” Nor-Shipping is inviting relevant partners and stakeholders to team up with it and share ideas.

Source: Nor-Shipping