Government and Military Leaders to Discuss New Naval Security Challenges at International Maritime Security Conference 2013

SINGAPORE, 2 May 2013 – The International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC), a biennial invitation-only gathering of Chiefs of Navy, Directors-General of Coast Guard, government officials and key industry players from around the world, will return as a key highlight of the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX Asia) 2013. The conference is organised by Experia Events and co-hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).

Themed “Safe and Secure Seas – Strengthening Cooperation in Maritime Security”, IMSC 2013 will be held on 15 May at Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC), Singapore. Over 350 delegates are expected to discuss evolving transnational threats to maritime security and safety, examine prevailing operating paradigms, further collaboration towards a regional security framework and cooperative action across borders. Session topics include “Strategic Stability and Maritime Security Outlook” and “Confronting the Change in Maritime Environment and New Challenges”.

IMSC features high-level speakers including Ministers, Chiefs of Navy and Senior Military Officers from across the globe. This year, IMSC delegates can look forward to hearing from:

“IMSC has grown to become a key fixture of IMDEX Asia, and the rapidly evolving security needs of navies and Coast Guards around the world make this an extremely timely occasion to bring to the forefront issues of enhancing cooperation across borders,” said Jimmy Lau, Managing Director, Experia Events. “Conferences such as IMSC not only strengthen IMDEX Asia’s position as a mustattend event in the international maritime industry calendar, they also play an important role in cementing Singapore’s status as an important maritime hub. I am delighted that we are able to once again work with our valued partners, RSIS and the RSN, to offer this prestigious, high-level forum to our top delegates at IMDEX Asia.”

Said Ambassador Barry Desker, Dean, RSIS, “As a leading think tank and research centre, our mission at RSIS is to forge new ground in strategic thinking on security issues in the Asia-Pacific with a practical application for policymakers. Now more than ever, it is critical for navies, Coast Guards and government officials from the region and around the world to embrace a co-operative security approach in order to keep our seas safe. With this year’s selection of pressing and relevant topics and a line-up of highly sought-after speakers, we are confident that IMSC 2013 will be of great value to delegates.”

IMDEX Asia, organised by Experia Events with the support of the Republic of Singapore Navy, is Asia Pacific’s foremost maritime defence show. This year’s edition will be held from 14 to 16 May 2013 at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore. As a testament to the strategic importance of the event, over 80% of exhibition space for IMDEX Asia 2013 has already been booked. This includes new exhibitors such as Devor Technologies, Fincantieri, Lürssen Marine Technology, Scania, Schiebel, Westport Shipyard, Viking Air and Liquid Robotics, alongside industry leaders such as Austal, DCNS, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, ST Engineering and ThyssenKrupp Marine.