Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State at His Majesty’s Government’s Department for Business and Trade, officially opened Seawork this morning, providing a keynote speech to the assembled crowd and was buoyant about the growth of the industry.
Ms Ghani explained, “The British maritime industry is one of the most innovative, with a pace of development and willingness to embrace new technologies that very few can match. The shipping technology sector is already a £4 billion industry and estimated to more than triple in value by the end of the decade.”
This is the third time the minister has attended Seawork and commented, “We are so proud of our seafaring heritage and its future, as we develop new technologies and innovation to go greener and cleaner.”
“UK maritime is an industry of the future, and this Government is committed to attracting further investment in this sector, helping to create jobs, pay higher wages and grow the economy.
“It’s great to be here in Southampton and open this event today. I’m looking forward to talking to businesses about boosting investment and unlocking opportunities to export the UK’s innovative technologies, services and designs around the world.”
Following her address, the Minister had a full tour of Seawork and Marine Civils including the handover of keys for a new pilot vessel. She met with exhibitors learning more about the vessels, innovations and news being showcased from Europe's largest commercial marine and workboat exhibition.
