Dubai Maritime City Authority said it has signed a MoU with Confitarma, the Italian Ship-owners' Association, to boost synergic co-operation between the two parties and promote the growth of the maritime industry in Dubai and Italy.

John Ewing, chief commercial officer of Dubai Maritime City Authority and Nicola Coccia, Confitarma president signed the deal during a ceremony that served as one of the highlights of the "48 ore del mare" conference held recently in Genoa, Italy.

Under the agreement, the two parties will jointly facilitate the exchange of ideas, know-how and policies that promote mutual growth and help in consolidating the global maritime industry.

The parties will likewise explore new forms of cooperation in areas that include advanced services for the shipping industry, while collaborating in the development of new investments for the two parties, said a company official.

"Dubai Maritime City Authority is pleased to sign this agreement with Confitarma, an organisation that we value as a critical ally in our pursuit of global growth and excellence. This partnership delivers a strategic gain for Dubai as our Italian counterparts have a very dynamic shipping industry, which serves as a critical link to European markets," said Ewing. 

"Moreover, this will be another opportunity to showcase the unprecedented development concept and the state-of-the-art facilities within Dubai Maritime City," he noted.

"We are likewise delighted with the enthusiastic response of Confitarma to this initiative. The Italians have been greatly impressed with the highly innovative concept of Dubai Maritime City, which has been designed to provide all the requirements of the international maritime industry, including a full range of industrial, commercial, residential and leisure facilities."

"Dubai Maritime City's fully integrated development concept has been a key factor in the Italians' strong interest in this groundbreaking agreement," he added.

Heir to a shipping company and shipowners’ trade association tradition that dates back to the start of the century, Confitarma represents more than nine tenths of the Italian merchant fleet.

Its members include shipping companies and shipowners’ groups that operate in all the different sectors of cargo and passenger transport, as well as in the cruise sector and in the supply of auxiliary traffic services.

Coccia said the signing of the MOU was another step made by Confitarma towards the internationalisation of the Italian shipping industry.

"Italy has a strong and dynamic shipping sector and could provide DMC with the expertise needed in the realization of its ambitious project, at the same time Italian ship-owners will find in Dubai an excellent location for doing business with fast growing markets such India, China and the Far East in general, benefiting the advantageous position and fantastic logistic facilities”. Coccia added-TradeArabia News Service