PACIFIC2021 expo cancelled – for better/later event

After breaking records in 2019, the PACIFIC International Maritime Exposition – PACIFIC2021 – has been cancelled, renamed and moved to 2022.

FILE PHOTO (18 May 2020): NUSHIP Sydney off the coast of Sydney, NSW, shortly before her historic commissioning at sea. Photo by Able Seaman Jarrod Mulvihill.

Moving the expo became necessary after the COVID-19-induced Avalon Airshow and Land Forces Conference were also rescheduled by their mutual organisers – and the name change was deemed necessary to reflect or encapsulate an expanding remit.

Ian Honnery CEO of organisers AMDA Foundation said reflecting the increasing importance of the Indo Pacific region to the entire world, the PACIFIC International Maritime Exposition would become the INDO PACIFIC International Maritime Exposition from 2022.

“Initially, there will be a new timing too – instead of the previously planned PACIFIC dates in August 2021, INDO PACIFIC will initially be held during May 2022,” Mr Honnery said.

“Since the inaugural PACIFIC International Maritime Exposition in 2000, the 11 biennial PACIFIC events held to date have seen PACIFIC firmly established on the world stage, as an essential hub for topical discussion of issues affecting naval and commercial maritime strategy, industry and technology.

“PACIFIC became a key platform for engagement between naval defence and commercial maritime industries, government and defence leaders, researchers and academia from Australia, the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

“Australia is strategically positioned as an island continent, bordered by both the Indian and Pacific oceans and is therefore uniquely located within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

“In consultation with the Royal Australian Navy, AMDA Foundation Limited has, therefore, decided to reflect this unique maritime strategic and economic significance with a new focus and a new name – INDO PACIFIC International Maritime Exposition.

“This decision has not been taken lightly.

“PACIFIC 2019 broke all records, with 657 participating exhibitor companies from 22 nations, 21,241 attendances and 182 industry, government, defence and scientific delegations, including 45 international naval delegations and 21 Chief of Navy counterparts from around the world.”

Mr Honnery said the Indo Pacific had become increasingly central to world commerce, international stability and security and the Indian and Pacific Oceans included the world’s busiest trade corridors, driving commercial and geopolitical connections that embraced much of the globe.

“Key Australian and international stakeholders, as well as the world’s naval defence and commercial maritime industries, are increasingly focused on the ‘Indo Pacific’.

It is, therefore, appropriate that the name of the event, which provides a platform for discussion in the national interest among those key groups and is an essential engagement and promotional opportunity for industry, should reflect that focus.

“Nevertheless, while the name INDO PACIFIC International Maritime Exposition is new, and its focus broadened, the event’s highly successful format and structure will remain unchanged.

“More than ever before, INDO PACIFIC will be a powerful wave to help propel industry forward to post-pandemic recovery.”

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