UAE: World Ports and Trade Summit 2011 Opens in Abu Dhabi

The World Ports and Trade Summit 2011 today opened at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. The summit will address challenges, trends and opportunities emerging from the current macro-economic outlook to help provide a clearer picture of the industry’s recovery schedule.

More than 40 international maritime business leaders and experts, including senior figures from international port associations, will address delegates over the course of the three day World Ports and Trade Summit. Headline speakers from the Pan-Arab region include Captain Abdul Wahad Al Diwani of Abu Dhabi’s National Transport Authority, Captain Feisal Saad of Ras Laffan Port, Qatar and Tony Douglas, CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports Authority.

Providing a global perspective are Efthimios E. Mitropoulos and Peter Hinchcliffe, secretary generals of the International Maritime Organization and International Chamber of Shipping respectively, along with port authority heads from Europe and the Indian sub-continent.

“The large number of VIPs that will be attending the World Ports and Trade Summit demonstrates the importance of maritime trade and ports infrastructure to businesses and governments on both a regional and global scale,” said Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade.

“Despite the fact that port development programs have seen a downturn during recent years, growth has returned stronger than before, with port expansion and development moving forward once again,” Hayman said.

The World Ports and Trade Summit also features an international exhibition, hosted tours of port facilities in the UAE in addition to an open question and answer session with the management team of Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, training workshops and a series of roundtables.

Jointly organised by Turret Media and Seatrade, The World Ports & Trade Summit is sponsored by the UAE Department of Transport, Etihad Crystal Cargo, Bechtel, GHC, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Boskalis Westminster Middle East, DNV, Citi, Emirates Aluminium, UASC and in association with Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Department of Economic Development, DP World, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Arab Seaports Federation and Organisation of the Islamic Ship owners Association.

[mappress]

Source: breakbulk, March 29, 2011