The International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) was founded in 1991 with the aim of promoting and facilitating the productive exchange of knowledge, information and experience on economic issues within the wider maritime sector, among academics, professionals, and policy makers. The IAME Annual International Conference is the key forum of the Association that brings its international members closer together, as well as closer to the market, every year. The international conferences of IAME take place in a different country every year, under the academic supervision of a selected academic institution each time. The countries that had the honor to host the IAME Conferences in the last seven years are: Italy (2000), Hong Kong (2001), Panama (2002), Korea (2003), Turkey (2004), Cyprus (2005) and Australia (2006).

The IAME 2007 has already attracted overwhelming attention from 120 academics from all over the world, as well as senior shipping executives from maritime institutions in 37 countries around the world. The conference will cover subject areas including Shipping Economics, Ship Finance, Maritime Policy and Management, Port Policy and Logistics, amongst others. In addition, senior Government officials and shipping executives are confirmed keynote speakers in the Conference, and will present their views and positions on the development and progress of the Greek and International shipping sectors. Spearheading this process, the Greek Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Giorgos Alogoskoufis, will be the lead speaker of the Opening Ceremony of the Conference that will held in Eugenides Foundation.

IAME 2007 is under the auspices of the Ministry of Mercantile Marine and the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping. The event is sponsored by NAVIOS Maritime Holdings Inc. that serves as the IAME 2007 Industry Partner; MFS Maritime Financial Services Corporation, The Tsakos Group and Nereus Shipping S.A. are the event’s Silver Sponsors, while Diana Shipping Inc. and International Registries, Inc. - The Marshall Islands Registry are the Bronze Sponsors. Furthermore, the Conference is supported by the following industry bodies and associations: BIMCO, INTERTANKO, Mediterranean Cargo Vessels Shipowners Union, Hellenic Shipbrokers Association (HSA), HELMEPA, The Propeller Club of the United States, International Maritime Union in Greece, WISTA Hellas, Hellenic Logistics Association, and the Hellenic Association of Maritime Economists.

International and Domestic Communication Sponsors are Lloyd’s List and Naftemporiki Newspaper, respectively, whereas International and Domestic Communication Supporters are the following media: Lloyd’s Shipping Economist, Lloyd’s List Events, NAFTIKA CHRONIKA, Economic Outlook, Logistics & Management, EFOPLISTIS, NAFS, ELNAVI, and Shipping International Monthly Review. The event’s Official Provider of Express Mail Services is DHL Express.

The selection of ALBA Graduate Business School in the role of academic coordinator and organizer of IAME2007 is a great honor. ALBA Graduate Business School is a non-state, not-for-profit, research-driven institution that offers – among others - the MBA in Shipping; ALBA Graduate Business School is currently in a unique position, as it offers the only MBA in Shipping program that is accredited by The Association of MBAs (AMBA). The focus of the ALBA MBA in Shipping is to create and disseminate knowledge that has been tested and applied in actual market conditions. On this basis, ALBA Graduate Business School undertakes with great pleasure the organization of IAME2007, confident that the event’s success will become a reference point for similar future events.

To register, to read the complete event program, as well as to find any further information on IAME 2007, please visit the conference website on www.iame2007.org or contact the Conference Secretariat, Ms. Marina Maniati, by telephone on (+30) 6936-686991, or by email at the following address: iame2007@alba.edu.gr.