FTA Chairman signs maritime agreements at inaugural transport show in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, UAE - 25 October 2015: The inaugural three-day NATRANS Arabia conference and exhibition, opened today (Sunday 25 October 2015), at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), by H.E. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Public Works and Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority - Land and Marine.

The event is the only integrated, coordinated, multimode transportation show in the GCC featuring designs for more than $200 billion worth of transportation projects and is being held in partnership with the UAE Federal Transport Authority.

"Thanks to the UAE's strong ties with the rest of the world on land, sea and air, it has become a dynamic trading country. In order to maintain its leading position, the UAE is preparing a comprehensive transport plan until 2030, for which we will allocate more investment for transport and infrastructure," said HE Al Nuaimi.

NATRANS Arabia features 80 local, regional and international exhibitors as well as three dedicated transportation conference streams. Each stream focuses on a specific area of transportation infrastructure technology, branded under a broader heading of either rail, road or maritime, allowing commercial stakeholders to align their regional market strategy with individual and joint government plans for all three sectors across the GCC countries.

"The vitality of the region's transportation infrastructure sector is driving innovation with the UAE emerging as an undisputed leader with plans to introduce various sustainable mass transportation systems including the Etihad Rail project in Abu Dhabi and the Route 2020 project in Dubai," said Alex Heuff, Exhibition Director, NATRANS Arabia.

To enable GCC-wide transportation and infrastructure projects to be planned successfully, design standardisation will be integral, especially when interfacing individual national projects, between participating GCC countries and whilst onsite at NATRANS Arabia, HE Al Nuaimi, signed two important agreements. The first with Japanese ship classification society, ClassNK. The society is actively engaged in a growing range of ship related activities and services aimed at contributing to promoting the protection of human life and property at sea as well as protection of the marine environment.

"The principal work of the society's expert technical staff is to undertake surveys to ensure that the rules which it has developed are applied to new-builds and existing ships to ensure their safety. Their standards cover not only hull structures, but also propulsion systems, electrics, electronic systems, safety equipment, cargo handling gear, and various other areas. ClassNK's surveyors work in shipbuilding and repair yards and at ports across the world, wherever they may be called upon to examine the condition of a ship," added Heuff.

The second agreement was signed with TASNEEF, the UAE-based maritime classification society, the first of its kind in the Arab world. The primary mission of TASNEEF is to promote the security and safety of maritime life and property, and protecting and preserving the natural marine environment, through ship classification, statutory services, certification of materials and components, maritime and naval advisory and training.

The three-day multi-stream conference programme incorporates the 6th Middle East Rail Opportunities conference, as well as the Middle East Road Conference and the Middle East Maritime Conference. Road safety strategies, ITS and public transport are top of the agenda for the conference.

Over 80 exhibiting companies are present to showcase their latest transportation technologies, to in excess of 2,000 trade visitors from across the region, that are expected during the event.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is an official supporter of the event alongside Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry, ITS Arab, RoadSafetyUAE and Diplomatic Council. NATRANS Arabia has also attracted key support from the European Parking Association (EPA) and MAFEX, the Spanish Railway Association, the UAE Shipping Association plus Etihad Rail as Strategic Sponsor, ESI Rail as Gold Sponsor, PTV Group as Silver Sponsor, Laborex as Bronze Sponsor, Pandrol as Lanyard Sponsor, Al Futtaim Toyota as the Hybrid Innovation Partner and Emirates Driving Company as the Official Road Safety Partner.