KARACHI: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser on Monday attended the Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC) in Karachi as the guest of honor, hoping to boost collaboration at the four-day event showcasing Pakistan’s maritime potential.
The global exhibition’s second edition will run from Nov. 3 to 6 and will feature 178 exhibitors — including 28 international firms and 150 local organizations — as well as 133 delegates from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America.
The event will be featuring business-to-business and business-to-government meetings, signing of various agreements and an 'International Maritime Conference on Harnessing Blue Economy Potential for Sustainable Development.'
Pakistan Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf welcomed the guest of honor and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who was the chief guest at the opening ceremony at Expo Center, Karachi.
"I am very honored to visit Pakistan and attend this very important event where I have the opportunity to see how developed is the maritime sector and also to discuss collaboration," the Saudi minister said, adding the purpose of his visit is to "improve connectivity between the two countries, exchange ideas and information and experiences for us to grow together and prosper together."
The exhibition will provide opportunities to the maritime industry, both in the public and private sectors, to display products and develop business relationships, according to its website.
It intends to provide a platform to bring together stakeholders from diverse maritime industries of hydrocarbon extraction, coastal development and shipping, port infrastructure, fisheries, marine tourism, offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed mining, marine biotechnology and others to exploit the ocean’s untapped resources.
The four-day event is being held under the patronage of Pakistan Navy and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and aims to foster global cooperation in blue economy.
"The organization of this maritime expo by Pakistan Navy to create awareness about the country’s maritime resources is commendable," said Iqbal, who also unveiled a commemorative stamp and visited various stalls at the expo.
