PANEL LEADER

Jerzy Czuczman, participant, speaker and moderator at numerous editions of the International Economic Forum in Gdynia, discussing maritime economy and maritime industries.

The Association of Polish Maritime Industries FORUM OKRĘTOWE is the only industry organisation in Poland that integrates companies operating in the maritime industry and widely interpreted ship-building industry. Apart from production shipyards and repair yards, members of FORUM OKRĘTOWE include system and service providers, cooperators and ship equipment manufacturers as well as other companies and institutions which are active in the industry, among them: universities, research and development centres, design companies, classification societies, banks and legal offices. Companies associated within the structures of the Association of Polish Maritime Industries FORUM OKRĘTOWE represent a high professional level. They provide an enormous intellectual potential, employ in total approximately 10,000 employees based on contracts of employment, and generate sales at the level of 7 billion Polish zlotys. The Association's statutory task is to promote, protect and represent the interests of associated members in organisations co-determining economic, political and social conditions of the maritime industry operation.

FORUM OKRĘTOWE is a member of the European SEA Europe – Ships & Maritime Equipment Association, and a member of the Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan (PKPP Lewiatan). More information on www.forumokretowe.org.pl

The Society of Polish Naval Architects and Marine Engineers KORAB acts within the framework of the Association of Polish Engineers and Mechanical Technicians (SIMP) as its branch division, a social organisational unit of a scientific and technical nature, carrying out activities in the area of widely interpreted maritime economy, with particular attention paid to the problems of the ship-building industry. More information on www.topkorab.org.pl

The Society of Polish Naval Architects and Marine Engineers KORAB is the member of  Confederation of European Maritime Technology Societies  (CEMT) and cooperates with the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) from Great Britain.

PANEL IDEA

This year’s Maritime Industries panel will be entirely devoted to the potential of Polish-French cooperation in shipbuilding services. In the last two decades, the Polish shipbuilding industry has generally assumed extensive cooperation with North European countries – mostly Norway, Finland and Germany. Regardless of the scale of success of these cooperation endeavors, the key to developing the shipbuilding industry in Poland will be to find an alternative direction for cooperation in the upcoming years. In the opinion of a part of the Polish environment, France has the potential to guarantee further development to Polish companies, as well as their safety, by guaranteeing
a portfolio of contacts and commissions. The French shipbuilding industry is generally based on the production of modern cruise liners and military crafts. In contrast, the Polish shipbuilding industry encompasses specialized subcontracting as part of modern, comprehensive projects. Opportunities have emerged to stimulate further cooperation between the Polish and French shipbuilding industries. This year’s Gdynia Maritime Economy Forum can serve as an impulse, as among the invited guests are high-rank representatives of the Groupement des Industries de Construction et Activités Navales (GICAN), an association of major French companies (more than 170 companies and institutions) that design and manufacture ships and weaponry, design and manufacture maritime technologies based on renewable energy, as well as develop port infrastructure and conserve the marine environment.

Apart from GICAN representatives, the panel will be attended by high-rank representatives of the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation, representatives of the MARS Fund and Mr Christophe Tytgat, the Secretary General of the Shipyards’ and Maritime Equipment Association (SEA Europe). The event will also be attended by the representatives of the Polish shipbuilding industry.

We believe that this year’s Maritime Industries panel will serve as an important impulse for the development of the Polish and French shipbuilding industry.