A view of Vietship 2014 which opened yesterday in Ha Noi. The three-day event is a good chance for businesses to seek co-operation opportunities and partnerships. — VNA/VNS Photo Doan Tan

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— The 7th International Exhibition on Shipbuilding, Marine Technology and Transportation (Vietship 2014) will provide an opportunity to businesses seeking partners, especially in Viet Nam's markets.

Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang made this point at the opening ceremony of the exhibition held yesterday in Ha Noi. The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

Member's council chairman of the Shipbuilding Industry Corporation Nguyen Ngoc Su said Vietship 2014 was organised in a scenario of strong influence from the global economic downturn on the international and domestic shipbuilding and marine industries.

However, Vietship, the largest meeting on shipbuilding, marine technology and transportation in Viet Nam, continued to attract a large number of domestic and international businesses operating in these industries, he added.

He noted that the three-day exhibition had attracted 200 stalls from more than 110 companies, including those from nations with large marine industries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and China, as well as the Netherlands, Poland, Finland and Norway. Other leading marine nations such as France, Russia, the United Kingdom and Australia are also participating in the exhibition.

Nguyen Quoc Tuan, a representative of the Sai Gon Shipbuilding and Marine Industry Co, which has participated in Vietship seven times, remarked that the event offers an opportunity to participating businesses to advertise their trademarks to domestic and overseas companies and boost cooperation.

A seminar discussing opportunities and challenges related to the shipbuilding industry will also be organised on the sidelines of the exposition.

Contracts worth US$100 million were signed between domestic and international businesses at Vietship 2012, which reported 30,000 visitors. — VNS