Norway maintains maritime industry support at Inmex China

Inmex China in Guangzhou is the largest and most established international maritime event in the South China Sea region.

On 7-9 December 2016 Norwegian companies within the marine industry joined the Norwegian Pavilion, showcasing to the Chinese partners that the Norwegian Maritime companies put a high value on maintaining the relations.

The maritime industry today is in a severe situation. It is, therefore, important to keep in touch with partners, wrote Innovation Norway Asia. The agency understands the importance of maintaining the relationships even during tougher times. Therefore they have maintained their effort in promoting Norwegian Maritime industry while the industry is currently in difficulties.

“It is in bad times when you realize who your real friends are – this rings especially true in China. As most already know, the Chinese way of doing business is more relation-based than in the western world, where we tend to be more transactional. This means that making and maintaining good relationships with buyers, suppliers and strategic partners is extremely important in China.

It is also well known that the maritime industry is struggling in many parts of the world, maybe especially so in China and in Norway. Your Chinese partners know that times are hard in Norway, and also in China. The normal western response in tough times is probably to cut, save and focus on improving the cash flow. However, what does that signal to your Chinese partners, buyers and suppliers? They see someone who in hard times focuses on themselves, rather than the relationship with their friends.”

Norwegian Director General of Shipping and Navigation, Olav Akselsen, attended the opening of the maritime exhibition.

Norwegian Maritime Exporters (NME) in cooperation with the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Guangzhou had prepared the Norwegian pavilion.

Mr. Akselsen met the various Norwegian companies and discussed their new technologies and the importance of the Chinese market.

“For Norwegian shipping, Inmex is a useful arena to show the Chinese market what products and services they can offer,” said Director General Olav Akselsen.

Sources: Norwegian Marine Authority, Innovation Norway Asia, Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Guangzhou.