Philippe Fourrie, co-founder of the Ilago agency and coordinator of the Maritime Economy Forum [Assises de l’Economie de la Mer – AEM], the 19th edition of which will take place at Bordeaux Congress Centre on 19 and 20 November, takes us behind the scenes of this key event for maritime sector players. Organised since 2005 by Le Marin, a specialist publication by the Ouest-France press group, this annual event brings together key policymakers and experts from the sector which alone represents 1.5% of France’s GDP.
What are the key topics of this major event?
The Maritime Economy Forum is the annual gathering for the whole French maritime eco-system. The specificity of this national event is its significance for all aspects of the sector. Its comprehensive content covers topics such as defence, marine energy, and shipbuilding and outfitting, in addition to fishing, leisure and sailing activities as well as tourism. More than 1,500 participants are expected for the two-day event, all linked by the common factor of the sea.
This 2024 edition includes a new theme. Can you tell us more?
‘The Transition of the Maritime Economy’ represents the key theme of this Forum and the backbone of plenary sessions, conferences and editorialised round tables. Each year, Le Marin puts together the Forum programme in association with an editorial committee which notably includes the French Maritime Cluster. This highly topical theme is therefore the fruit of regular discussions and reflections. In parallel, we will be experimenting for the first time with a conference cycle during the entire morning of the second day, devoted to topics such as coastal erosion, wind-powered shipping, the self-sailing vessel and military drone markets, vessel lifecycles, ocean yachting in the energy transition era, renewable sea energy, and much more besides.
This new conference offer is made possible in part thanks to three amphitheatres located opposite each other at Bordeaux Congress Centre, enabling participants to move easily from one conference to another.
The Maritime Economy Forum usually invites major figures from the sector or the economic sphere. Who are the keynote speakers this year?
We now have confirmation of the presence of Fabrice Loher, Deputy Minister for the Sea and Fisheries; Jean-Yves Le Drian, former Minister for both Defence and Europe & Foreign Affairs, and Nicolas Vaujour, Chief of Staff of the French Navy. We are also expecting to see most of the key figures in the maritime sector, such as Edouard Louis-Dreyfus, President of Armateurs de France [French shipowners’ association], and Pierre-Eric Pommelet, CEO of the Naval Group. All the players ‘that matter’ in maritime fields will be present, which constitutes the strength of this unmissable event.
Has Bordeaux been a long-envisaged venue for this Forum?
Absolutely! Bordeaux is a maritime mercantile city with significant marine and port activities. The importance of this sector for the city’s ecosystem makes this venue a natural choice for the Forum. It was about time we finally came to Bordeaux!
