Story by Victor Seow
Pix by Shum Jian-Wei
IT was definitely a spectacle scene when Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was at Straits Quay Marina on Dec 4 to launch the inaugural Maritime International Showcase Malaysia (MIS.M 2015).
According to the press release distributed to the media, the event held from Dec 3 to 6, was the first business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) maritime event with a focus on marine lifestyle to be held in Malaysia.
The four-day event allowed as many as 30 exhibitors to promote marine lifestyle leisure, a boat showcase which included 24 local and international boats as well as a maritime forum.
It also featured a nautical lifestyle event by Pen Marine, a display of business aviation aircraft which included a helicopter and sea planes and a showcase of Mercedez Benz Dream Cars along Straits Quay.
Lim, in his speech, commended the efforts of the organisers in linking business opportunities with the strengths of Penang as an island with deep history rooted in its shores.
“Penang has a long history and connection with the seas and for many centuries the development and growth of Penang was closely linked to its location as an important trading port in the world and is the right place to host this first ever maritime showcase of its kind,” he said.
“Being surrounded by the sea brings tremendous opportunities for maritime to thrive in Penang. The state is a prime location to be a hub for yachting and can be the gateway to the north cruising ground of southern Thailand and the Mergui Archipelago. Penang also has deep water ports to receive yachts from the rest of the world. These, coupled with Penang’s status as a world heritage city, old world charm and of course, our status as a food haven with the best street food in the world puts us on the right footing to become a world class maritime destination,” Lim added.
Also at the event were state exco member for Tourism Development and Culture Danny Law Heng Kiang, chief executive officer of MIS. M Rolv Reissiger, managing director of Pen Marine Oh Kean Shen and chief executive officer and president of Stylo International, the lifestyle partner for the event, Datuk Nancy Yeoh.
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