More than 30 regional and international maritime industry leaders and experts will convene in Abu Dhabi next week for the high profile summit.

 

The third annual World Ports and Trade Summit,  on March 19 and 20, will take an in-depth look at the promotion of trade development, supply chain management and port efficiency in the Gulf and the wider Middle East, said a statement.

 

Held under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and in strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), the summit will open with a panel keynote address by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, chairman, ADPC; Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy; Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, vice chairman, DP World; and Grant Gilfillan, CEO, Sydney Ports Corporation and first vice president IAPH.

 

“This session will set the tone and the direction for two days of high-level industry debate. The power shift eastwards and the ramifications – both positive and negative - for strategic players located throughout the Gulf,” said Chris Hayman, chairman, Seatrade, the event organiser.

 

Moderated by international broadcaster and presenter Naga Munchetty, the summit schedule also features a world trade and economics’ forum at which panelists will debate the critical challenges faced by governments, policy makers and business leaders in trade development.   

 

Confirmed speakers include Professor Douglas McWilliams, from the UK’s Bunden Centre for Economics and Business Research; Dr Kai Stukenbrock, director of Standard & Poors, Germany; and Sherife AbdelMessih, chief executive, Future Energy Corporation, Egypt.

 

More information on the summit is available at www.worldportsandtrade.com  -TradeArabia News Service