Asia Marine Conference opens on 2nd day of global boat show

HWASEONG, South Korea, June 9 (Yonhap) -- A global conference on Asia's marine leisure industry took place on Thursday on the sidelines of an international boat show underway here, attracting around 200 experts from around the world, the organizer said.
The Korea International Boat Show (KIBS) 2011, which kicked off on Wednesday, will run until Sunday in waters off Hwaseong, 45 kilometers southwest of Seoul, according to the event's organizer.
The Asia Marine Conference, the country's largest event for the marine leisure industry, drew around 200 government and boat industry officials -- including Mark Adams, vice president at the U.S. National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA); Anthony DiGiulian, chief of Saltwater Professional Consulting; Mike Derrett, a former adviser for the KIBS; and Masahiko Yoshida, an official at Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
"We tried to create a venue where experts can discuss the domestic and global marine industries' latest trends and also spur robust business talks," Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo said in a welcoming address.
Experts from around the world shared their knowledge and outlooks on the world's marine leisure industry.
In a keynote speech, Adams gave a presentation on the management strategy and vision of the NMMA, which runs 18 boat shows across the U.S. He also addressed ways of promoting cooperation between the NMMA and KIBS.
Derrett introduced the latest industry trends and analyzed the growth outlook for Asia's marine leisure market.
Kim Dong-ju, a senior researcher at the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlement, stressed the importance of the KIBS.
"The development of Gyeonggi Province's western coastline can greatly contribute to Asia's prosperity," he said.
The KIBS is scheduled to hold another open conference session on Friday.