Many foreign visitors to Aqua Nor

In spite of the international financial crisis and difficulties in part of the industry, many foreign delegations have given notice of their participation. It is expected that about 400-500 persons will participate in the "Aquaculture Europe" conference organized by the European Aquaculture Society a few days ahead of the exhibition. It is also expected that about 100 will participate in the "International Aquaculture Biosecurity Conference", which is organized for the first time in connection with Aqua Nor. Delegations and individual visitors from more than 50 nations are expected to visit Aqua Nor 2009, according to the organizers. Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea will come with a delegation of some 80 persons from the central and province fisheries authorities and from the private sector. From Chile the Minister of Finance Hugo Lavados will come with a number of representatives from the authorities and from the private sector. Brazil's Minister of Fisheries Altemir Gregolin will lead a large delegation consisting of representatives from the authorities, research and business development. Scotland will be represented by Minister of the Environment Roseanna Cunningham and a delegation from the authorities. From China, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea and India there will be delegations with representatives of the fisheries authorities, research institutions and the aquaculture industry. The programme for these delegations is organized by Innovation Norway and its regional offices. In a comment, Mr. Odd Berg, Director of the Nor-Fishing Foundation, says: "It is a special pleasure for us to see that so many foreign delegations have given notification of their participation this year. In spite of the international financial crisis and the production problems that some producer countries are experiencing, it seems that it exactly in such a situation that it is important to be present at the exhibition to gather information, discuss the challenges with colleagues and specialists and to feel the pulse of the present development". "It is gratifying to see that our efforts to make Aqua Nor into a large, international exhibition have been successful. Aqua Nor is now the largest aquaculture technology exhibition in the world, and many organizations, companies and individuals find it necessary to participate as exhibitors, visitors, and conference participants, or to organize their own events here in Trondheim in connection with Aqua Nor. We are heading for hectic and exciting days from the 18th until the 21st of August, - but that is exactly what we are working for and hoping for," concludes Mr. Berg.