Taiwan Shipbuilding Industry Association to Launch the First Kaohsiung International Maritime and Defence Expo in August

Taiwan Shipbuilding Industry Association to Launch the First Kaohsiung International Maritime and Defence Expo in August. Click here for high-resolution version · Marketwired

TAIPEI, TAIWAN--(Marketwired - Mar 29, 2016) - The Kaohsiung International Maritime & Defence Expo to be held in Kaohsiung City from August 25 - 28, 2016 will be the first international shipbuilding, marine and defence industry exhibition in Taiwan. The event host, Taiwan Shipbuilding Industry Association, has joined forces with military, industry specialists and academia experts in preparation for the event. Domestic and international exhibitors have been invited to showcase their quality and modern equipment in the hopes of energizing Taiwan's defence industry, stimulating investment and encouraging domestic and international orders. As well as promoting locally built marine vessels, the event will also promote international trade and inform the public of the shipbuilding industry's achievements, development and contribution to national defence and the maintenance of maritime rights. Taiwan Shipbuilding Industry Association is now cooperating with the Kaohsiung City Government on promoting the event. Exhibitor registration process is in full swing with enthusiastic responses from applicants.

Taiwan Shipbuilding Industry Event to Help Promote Government's Autonomous Self Defence Initiative and Revitalize National Defence

The maritime exhibition seeks to promote the government's initiative to assemble more defence vessels domestically. President-elect Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly expressed the importance of autonomous national defence and has proposed a policy in line with this view. The policy included submarine fleet production to begin in 2016 and be fully operational within ten years.

This policy is projected to motivate industry experts, increase capital investment and accelerate technology development. Additionally, it is expected to boost civil-military cooperation. As well as encouraging industrial technology upgrades, there will be stimulated development of related fields, increased foreign investment, and new job opportunities. Academia is also expected to benefit from new areas of specialized and professional research.

Han Pi-Hsiang, chairman of the Taiwan Shipbuilding Industry Association, stated, "Our shipbuilding industry has a solid foundation and an outstanding history of domestic economic development and contribution. In the past, the government's autonomous defence policy has successfully boosted the development of aerospace industry, and the shipbuilding industry is looking forward to similar results from the government's long-term manufacturing program. The first Maritime Exhibition will gather all the resources that are needed for the success of this policy and the government should take action towards executing the policy in order to invigorate national defence and promote economic benefits."