MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

First Sea Lord and Royal New Zealand Navy chief at Chilean maritime Expo

The ExpoNaval in Viña del Mar has 140 exhibitors from the naval and maritime industries and representatives from 80 countries

Beginning on Tuesday and until Friday the Chilean port of Viña del Mar will host the ninth edition of the very successful ExpoNaval, which besides its emphasis on naval defense, for the fourth time running will be combined with a maritime and port exhibition: Trans-Port 2014.

 Beginning on Tuesday and until Friday the Chilean port of Viña del Mar will host the ninth edition of the very successful ExpoNaval, which besides its emphasis on naval defense, for the fourth time running will be combined with a maritime and port exhibition: Trans-Port 2014.

With a projected turnout of more than 140 exhibitors and naval delegations from 80 countries, most of which participated in 2012, business generated at the exhibition is expected to increase considerably, given the growing importance of the international fair.

Among the guests announced at the naval conference are the First Sea Lord and head of the Royal Navy, Sir George Zambellas, KBC, DSC, ADC and Rear Admiral Jack Steer, head of the Royal New Zealand Navy currently on an official visit to Chile and touring different bases and operations.

According to the official release from organizers, continuing with the tradition of addressing current issues in the naval and maritime field, this edition of the conference will focus on the topic “Navies and their Contribution to Energy Efficiency and Environmental Protection”, offering a valuable debate on this current and international issue.

Also as part of Trans-Port 2014, the Chilean National Ship-owners Association, ANA, and the Chamber of Maritime Transport and Ports of Chile, Camport, have organized an agenda of conferences with Chilean and international experts addressing important, when not controversial topics, related to this field.

ExpoNaval 2014 and Trans-Port 2014 have a reputation as one of the most outstanding international naval defense and maritime exhibitions in Latin America, as well as a worldwide model for the promotion of state-of-the-art naval systems, generating new networking opportunities to share experiences and foster a balanced development of sea-nations.

The official name of the fair that will last four days and is sponsored by the Chilean Ministry of Defense, is the “9th International Naval & Maritime Exhibition and Conference for Latin America” and is geared to senior armed forces officers, military organization executives, military attachés, governmental officials, defense contractors and official delegations.

Defense minister Jorge Burgos Varela in his welcome message said that both fairs are important platforms for promoting regional and international relations in the defense field and for associated growth of the naval and maritime industries.

“These fairs allow us to bring together all naval delegations, representatives of the maritime industry and the main enterprises of the industry including those related to ports issues”, said minister Burgos Varela.

The 2014 edition will focus on the topic “Energy Efficiency and the Protection of the Environment as a Challenge to Navies and the Maritime Industry”, which reflects Chile's willingness to use the oceans for its development and protection of its sovereignty and also its commitment with the marine environment and the sustainable exploitation of this vital resource”.