Boat Show 2012 exhibition from May 18-20

by Nilma DOLE

The Boat Show 2012 exhibition will be held from May 18-20 at the BMICH.

It is organised by the Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute Lanka (GTE) Ltd (BTI) and the Professional Exhibition Organiser is Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd.

The Ministry of Industrial Development and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board under the Ministry of Export Development and International Trade have supported this event.

The Managing Director of the BTI, Gamini Herath said, "We are concentrating on the expansion of the local market that goes beyond the traditional vessels. We are trying to expand into the elite marina boating sector and luxury cruise vessels. At present, there are 40,000 to 50,000 boats - fishing boats and Navy vessels."

"We are expecting participants and exhibitors from all over South Asia including the Maldives, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and India to participate in this exhibition which will also have a forum to exchange ideas," he said.

The exhibition will boost tourism where visitors, can take part in leisure activities such as kite-surfing, diving, jet-skiing and whale-watching by riding in a boat.

The MD said, "With the dawn of peace, the government relaxed security restrictions and we are tapping Sri Lanka's boating industry potential to the maximum.

Considerable interest has also been seen as young people enjoy boat-racing, water activities and the concept of riding a boat is now a fashionable trend."

Even though Sri Lanka is an island nation, about 20 percent of the population have not been to sea or have gone in a boat.

The Project Manager LECS Missaka Weerakoon said, "The intention of the organisers is to provide a forum for all the related business sectors involved with the boating industry to display and promote their sectors to potential clients."

These sectors include suppliers of leisure, pleasure, industrial and commercial, fishing vessels, material, engines, interior fixtures, fittings, electrical and electronic devices, navigation equipment, on board safety equipment, water sports gear and equipment, credit insurance, providers of service to industry such as investment promotion, marketing and export facilitation, repairs to boats hull, engines and other equipment and training providers in boat building, sailing, navigation and seamen training.