del mar
More international exhibitors have already booked their stand for the World Fishing Exhibition than in 2003 and previous years, as has been stated by the President of the Executive Committee, Alfonso Paz-Andrade during the meeting held yesterday morning with the Minister of the Sea of the Xunta de Galicia (Galician Regional Government), Rosa Quintana, and the World Fishing Exhibition Executive Committee. The Executive Committee explained the evolution of the Exhibition objectives during the meeting, also attended by Juan Maneiro, Director-General for Competitiveness and Technological Innovation of the Sea.
Like this, Paz-Andrade said that the space booked by foreign exhibitors has increased by more than 1,000 square metres in comparison to 2003. He added that a larger number of visitors is also expected, so it has been considered that the World Fishing Exhibition is an unquestionable opportunity for Galician companies —pioneering in the fisheries sector— to show their know-how to the whole world.
The President of the Executive Committee informed Rosa Quintana about the meeting held the previous day with the director of the IGAPE, Joaquín Varela, during which they studied the possibility of establishing a collaboration line with the IGAPE in order to facilitate the attendance of Galician small and medium enterprises to the event. This comes in a moment in which the viability of these companies is been affected by the long strike of the naval sector and auxiliary companies. We all know that the internationalization of Galician SMEs is still an unresolved matter. Rosa Quintana showed her willingness to make this idea work.
AQUACULTURE
The Executive Committee also explained the novelties of this sixth World Fishing Exhibition to be held in Vigo. Among them, they highlighted the first Aqua Farming International, a professional exhibition for the aquaculture sector —activity in which Galicia is a leading region. The Minister of the Sea of the Xunta de Galicia has received information about the celebration of this exhibition and the parallel events on the agenda, among which we should mention the APROMAR Sectorial Conference (Association of Spanish Marine Fish Farmers) and the first AQA Conference.
Galicia is the main producer of turbot and mussel and has a great deal of experience in aquaculture, as well as important research centres on this field. Great collaboration opportunities are offered thanks to the attendance of authorities from developing countries, who consider aquaculture as a good option for the economic development of their states and as a source of proteins for their population. In fact, Galicia has played a very important role in the economic boost of these developing countries through fishing and thanks to their specialization.
The cooperation possibilities with these states are increased with aquaculture, given the great experience of Galicia in fields such as training and innovation, as well as its technological development and research, which can lead to experiences exportable to other states.
Finally, they also proposed to celebrate the ‘Galicia day’ on the 17th September, the second day of the Exhibition, as it has been traditionally done.
