Fourth edition of the Maldives Marine Expo has been launched with the signing of partners.

The official exhibition of the Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM) was launched at a special ceremony aboard the luxury safari boat Ritrella Tuesday evening by tourism minister Moosa Zameer. Officials from LAM and major local businesses attended the ceremony.

At the ceremony, state owned tourism promotion company Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), local telecom giant Dhiraagu, local printer M7 and Event Maldives signed up as premium partners. Ten additional exclusive partners, including Ritrella, Pixel Solutions, Efficacy Legal, Floating Asia, CTL Strategies, Symphony, Rauch, ELYIZ, ASAP and Mihaaru newspaper, also signed at the ceremony.

Leading local event management company Blak Pvt Ltd, which has been appointed to organise and manage the expo, has earlier announced that this year’s edition of the Maldives Marine Expo will take from September 9-11 in Male.

Held annually since 2013, Maldives Marine Expo is a platform for local boating industry professionals to meet and connect with their peers from around the world. It provides boat owners as well as suppliers to explore new business opportunities and partnerships, and collaborate with organisations that represent the boating industries of other countries.

Exhibitors include a wide range of businesses, including trade representatives, marine equipment suppliers and service providers. It also extends to resort developers and real estate agents as well as companies that provide telecommunication services, technology solutions, banking, financing and insurance services.

Over 32 exhibitors, including suppliers from China, Egypt, India, Russia, Sri Lanka, UAE and the US attended last year’s expo, which was held in the satellite town of Hulhumale.

Founded in 2007, LAM represents liveaboards operating in the Maldives and helps them expand their businesses through lobbying and promotional efforts.