DOHA: The first Qatar International Boat Show (QIBS) 2013 opened yesterday at Lusail Marina in Lusail City.
Around a 100 exhibitors from various countries including the UAE, Italy, Japan, Turkey, France, Cyprus, Germany, Monaco, Egypt, UK, Canada, Poland, Bahrain, Switzerland and Qatar are participating at the inaugural expo.
The expo which runs until Saturday is expected to attract 15,000 visitors to see 150 boats from top brands around the world on display. Exhibitors at the five-day event were optimistic the expo would offer various boat companies huge opportunity to venture into the promising luxury yacht market in Qatar.
“Now the QIBS 2013 is focusing everybody’s attention to the important luxury yacht market in Qatar and the GCC countries in general, which account for around eight percent of our international sales. It has opened a whole new communication channel between the boat yards and service industries and the local and regional markets here,” said Stefano Luraschi, Sales Manager of Cranchi- an Italian luxury boat manufacturer.
Cranchi, which has over a hundred years of experience in boatbuilding, yesterday signed an agreement with MG International of Doha to act as its official dealer in the region.
Ferreti Group, another world-famous Italian boat company, has launched in Qatar through the QIBS some of its top brands such the 45-knot high-performance GT sports cruisers of Pershing; the luxurious fast cruising yachts from Ferretti Yachts, Ferretti Custom Line, and Mochi Craft and the serenely smooth and quiet Ferretti Navettas.
Ferretti Group is represented at the Show by European dealer Ventura in association with its Qatari partner, Gulf Yachts.
Sunseeker International, Princess Yachts International, Azimut Yachts, Sea Ray, Sanlorenzo, Benetti, Overmarine, FIPA Group, Sunreef Yachts Bilgin Shipyard, and Kaiserwerft are among the other international boat companies at the expo.
Qatar is represented by Al Wakra, Al Udeid, Halul and Milaha – all of which manufacture highly cost-effective fibre-glass boats. Exhibitors from the UAE include Gulf Craft, Emirates Boats, Al Shaali, Dubai Marine and Sawamy; and from Bahrain, Al Dhaen.
The expo is expected to see the formation of Qatar’s own Marine Association. A roundtable meeting of maritime stakeholders will be held during the Show in which the Qatar Marine Association will be initiated.
Organisers said the event is surpassing expectations with bookings already made for next year’s edition of the show.
The expo is open to trade visitors and the general publi until Saturday, from 3pm to 9.30pm at Lusail Marina.
The Peninsula