NEVA 2003 Focuses on Russian Shipping and Shipbuilding

Russian Agency for Shipbuilding (Rossudostroenie) General Director, V. Ya. Pospelov, announced "The aim of the Exhibition is to develop the industrial and commercial co-operation between domestic and international companies." Pospelov added that the priorities included "items for commercial sea, river and fishery shipbuilding, marine equipment and ships for the exploration of offshore energy. Also included are ports activity, oceanography, ship repair and maintenance of the sea, river and offshore fleets". The Union of Russian Shipowners (SOROSS) has declared its support for the Program and invites participation by the world maritime community in the 2nd Maritime Forum of Russia to be held in conjunction with NEVA 2003. The government of Russia has created the Program to "develop high technology machinery and equipment for exploration of oil & gas deposits in the Arctic Offshore Zones 2003 - 2012". Masliukov, President and the Board of the Union of Oil & Gas Equipment Producers have committed their support to maximize participation in the Offshore Energy Sector of the Exhibition. The Krylov Shipbuilding Research Institute again jointly organizes the NEVA Conference & Seminar Program which is coordinated with the 2nd Maritime Forum during NEVA week under the title "Russian Shipping and Shipbuilding in the Global Market". Other leading official administrations participating in NEVA include the Association of Sea Commercial Ports, Federal Sea Fleet Service, Federal Inland Waterway Service, Department for Port Development, Russian Maritime Register, the Maritime Collegium of Russia and the Ministry of Transport. The Exhibition this year is an Official Event in the Program to celebrate the 300 years Anniversary of the City of St Petersburg and the organizers expect all previous records to be broken with participation already confirmed by well over 500 exhibiting companies from 40 countries.