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It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Seatrade Maritime Awards, held for the first time in association with Lloyd’s List. We are delighted that this year’s presentation is uniquely taking place during UAE Maritime Week, which is held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry for Energy and Infrastructure.
Tonight marks the 18th edition of these awards, which were initiated to provide the Middle East, as well as the Indian Sub-Continent and Africa, with a platform, built on transparency, from which to showcase the projects, people and innovations driving progress.
The last eighteen months have been a testing time for this diverse, dynamic region.
But if anyone expected that its maritime sector would be constrained by these circumstances, the strength and sheer volume of nominations submitted this year illustrate a very different picture. They confirm that the maritime industries of the Middle East and the wider region are continuing to innovate, to invest and to thrive.
With this in mind, our finalists this year are to be congratulated for their enterprise.
I hope you enjoy tonight’s celebrations.