Boating Trade Congress To Debut April 27-29 In Cartagena With International Marine Industry Backing

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and Asociación Náutica de Colombia (ANC) have announced they will produce Colombia Nautica: the International Nautical Congress of Colombia, April 27-29 in Colombia’s seaside recreation epicenter of Cartagena (above photo), to promote the country’s rapidly growing recreational boating industry.

Thom Dammrich is the President of ICOMIA and NMMA

Attendees of the congress will participate in two days of networking and education to learn about opportunities in Colombia. The country of 48 million faces has long coasts and thousands of beaches on both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, many lakes and navigable waterways, and a strong consumer base with rapidly rising disposable income. Many North Americans and even some Europeans are also making Colombia their vacation or retirement home destination.

The congress will also feature keynote speakers and breakout sessions as well as a marina tour to give attendees a glimpse of some of the existing boating infrastructure and facilities.

“Colombia’s recreational boating industry has tremendous growth potential and is an emerging boating market for the global marine industry,” said Thom Dammrich, ICOMIA and NMMA president. “By attending the congress, participating marine businesses can learn more about opportunities for recreational boating and the necessary steps to take to get involved.”

Topics to be covered throughout the congress include:

• “Why Colombia? Why Now?”
• “A Drone’s View of Marina Development in Colombia”
• “Understanding the Needs of the Colombian Marine Market.”

ANC joined ICOMIA as its 35th full-member in May of last year. The aim of the organization is to enable growth and competitiveness in the Colombian marine industry; as well as to create and develop business opportunities and contribute to the strengthening of the nautical culture within the country, boosting activities such as marinas, yacht clubs, marinas, shipyards, distributors and dealers of boats, nautical tourism service providers, water sports, sailors, among others.

Antonella Farah is the Executive Director of ANC, Colombia’s boating industry group.

“For the national government of Colombia, growing recreational boating industry is a priority,” stated Antonella Farah, Executive Director of ANC. “The Vice President of the Republic of Colombia (German Vargas Lleras) has placed a high sense of commitment to recreational boating by, for the first time in 17 years, reducing bureaucratic hurdles for marina development and evaluating marine regulations.”

Registration for the Congress is now open. Marine industry association representatives, boat builders, accessory and component manufacturers, dock and marine equipment manufacturers, marina developers, yacht and charter brokers, investors, maritime attorneys and insurance representatives, and tourist agents are all encouraged to attend. Given recreational boating’s growth potential in Colombia, marine industry professionals from around the globe will want to save the date for the International Nautical Congress of Colombia.