UBM Asia and Seatrade – a dynamic maritime portfolio

These are exciting times for those working in the maritime business of UBM Asia as they are now able to bring together the leading brands and media platforms for the benefit of the customers of both UBM and Seatrade across the region.

Jime Essink, president and chief executive officer of UBM Asia, explains to Seatrade Global that the merger of the two businesses has been a gradual and considered process ensuring that the maximum benefit is achieved.

The brands of Marintec, Seatrade and Sea Asia are strongly recognised across the region and beyond in the maritime world and will continue to be developed.

“Seatrade is a hugely powerful name, it was part of the acquisition to capitalise on the power of the Seatrade brand,” Essink states.

The addition of the leading Sea Asia event in Singapore, as well as Seatrade Middle East Maritime in Dubai and Seatrade Offshore Marine & Workboats in Abu Dhabi, complements UBM Asia’s maritime portfolio, which includes flagship event Marintec China, the world’s second largest maritime show, the long established Sea Japan event, and newer events such as Bariship and Marintec Indonesia.

“Of course Sea Asia being a part of this makes so much sense for UBM, it was an important place we were missing in Asia.

“This network of maritime events in Asia comes at time when we are seeing a dynamic expansion of the martime industries in this region and the two things go hand in hand,” he comments.

For the customer this will all mean an improved experience and the ability to network and promote their businesses and products across the portfolio to the widest audience possible.

It will also see new innovations from other parts of UBM Asia’s business that can be rolled out for the maritime sector. One such example Essink gives is the “Trade Buyer ID” it uses for its flagship Jewelry shows where a visitor is accredited to gain access to all 16 jewelry events worldwide for two years without the hassle of having to register for each individual event.

Looking ahead it will also allow new developments all geared at improving the customer experience such as “social registration” using popular platforms such as Linkedin. “UBM is very committed to utilising technology to improve the customer experience and that is easier done when you are part of UBM than a smaller company like Seatrade.”

Seatrade also brings with it an online and print media component to the maritime portfolio, including Seatrade Magazine and the Seatrade Global portal, which will enable UBM Asia to widen its services to the maritime community.

“UBM is all about serving communities and we always feel we serve customer communities better if we have a wider offering also in other media so we are very happy Seatrade has these kind of media and that are so well aligned to the events,” Essink explains.