POINT BLANCHE:--- Harbour Group of Companies Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo and Supervisory Board member Humphrey Mezas have concluded their attendance in Abu Dhabi at the Seatrade Shipping and Investment Forum that took place on November 05 at the Park Hyatt Hotel Resort.
According to Mingo, the forum provided an ideal platform for local and international maritime professionals and industry financiers to discuss the challenges and investment opportunities in the maritime industry.
The Investment Forum brought together more than 200 senior executives to take part in this premier event, including international financiers, insurers, lawyers, bankers, ship owners, port operators, investors and executives from the international maritime industry. Attendance of the forum allowed one to gather market information, increase knowledge and monitor competitor's activity.
"This is the first time the Port of St. Maarten attended this forum. It allowed us to network and meet with senior executives from maritime and finance sectors.
"We are looking forward as a port, and from a strategic perspective, and we have to remain ahead as country St. Maarten. National interests are key in combination with diversification. You have economies moving west to east and north to south, and young people are also playing an important role.
"We have to look at safeguarding our national economy and at the same time creating a stable environment based on interdependence and sharing. The global trade system is interconnected and nobody can go it alone, so we have to look at niche markets and activities and plan for that in order to remain ahead as a port and as a destination.
"Country St. Maarten must rethink its investment approach and strategy. We are dealing on an international level where productivity is at the top and inefficiencies have to be worked out of the system in order to survive and provide the best service you can," Port of St. Maarten CEO Mark Mingo said on Tuesday from Abu Dhabi.
Seatrade was founded in 1970, and is a well-established brand in the international cruise and maritime community. Its publications, events, management training, award schemes and websites cover every aspect of cruise and maritime activity and are known and respected around the world.
Seatrade's principal strength is its ability to bring key people together, encouraging innovation and facilitating better communication within the industry.
Seatrade is headquartered in Colchester, United Kingdom, with regional offices in Dubai, Singapore, as well as representatives in all major maritime centres and cruise destinations across the globe.
