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Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, the Dubai Maritime Summit 2018 will formally open on Sunday, October 28, 2018, to strengthen channels of communication between international leaders as well as discuss international best practices and innovative solutions in the global maritime sector based on the key pillars of innovation, knowledge, smart transformation, and cooperation. The event, one of the highlights of the UAE Maritime Week 2018, will bring together world-class maritime leaders, decision-makers, policy makers and representatives of major maritime companies. The upcoming summit will provide a platform for Dubai, one of world’s most competitive and attractive maritime clusters, to showcase its pioneering experience following its inclusion in the top five cities in the International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCD). The summit will also feature a number of new companies now operating in Dubai as a testament to its attractiveness among global investors.
Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping, commended Dubai for its internationally recognized achievements. He said that the Dubai Maritime Summit is an opportunity to bridge communication gaps among pioneers in the global maritime sector. Poulson added that the summit will help consolidate international efforts to find effective solutions to emerging and potential regulatory challenges. Participants will also tackle the most pressing issues facing the industry, particularly the decision of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to put a 0.5 per cent cap in the sulphur content of bunker fuel. The decision will enter into force globally by early 2020, thus the need for solidarity between governments and international maritime organizations to achieve the desired goals.
Poulsson added: "We look forward to exploring aspects of the IMO's historic agreement on the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to reduce carbon emissions for a sustainable maritime sector. We are confident that the summit will bring promising outcomes that will help reshape the future of an innovative-driven and sustainable global maritime community to ensure highest levels of growth.”
The Dubai Maritime Summit is once again promoting the rapprochement between maritime industry leaders, thus building bridges for the smooth transfer of modern knowledge transfer and sharing of international best practices. It will also encourage the development of innovative solutions that will enhance the competitiveness of the global maritime clusters—recognizing its role as a key player in the future of the industry and its contributions to the global economy.
The Dubai Maritime Summit 2018 will host the second edition of the Dubai Maritime Innovation Awards, a prestigious initiative recognizing the most valuable contributions and innovative initiatives that support the growth, development, and prosperity of the local maritime community, which is considered one of the best in the world. The Awards is in line with the national efforts to honor innovation, creativity, and excellence, thus highlighting Dubai as the world's most innovative city and a leading international center for maritime excellence and innovation.
The summit agenda will feature five key interactive sessions under the direction of Aaron Heslehurst, News Anchor and Presenter at BBC World News TV. The first session will be titled ‘An industry fit for the 2020s.’ The participants will include Dr. George D. Pateras, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping and the Hellenic Maritime Cluster; Claes Berglund, Vice President, European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA); and Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping. The second session will focus on container transport and logistics. The attendees will include Mohammed Al Muallem, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, UAE Region of DP World; Iqbal Alikhan, Program Director, Blockchains & Innovations at IBM Middle East & Africa; Dheeraj Bhatia, Senior Managing Director, Hapag Lloyd Middle East and Jesper Kjaedegaard, V-Group and BIMCO Board Member.
The third session titled ‘Preparing for a future in the major markets: a case for optimism?’ will be attended also by Ralph Leszczynski, Global Head of Research of Banchero Costa Group, Denis Petropoulos, Founding Partner of Braemar Shipping Services PLC; Capt Harihar Prasad, Managing Director, McQuilling Shipping Services, and Dr Henriëtte Van Niekerk, Head of Dry Bulk Analysis at Clarksons Platou. The fourth session will focus on ‘China’s Belt and Road Initiative: what does it mean for the Middle East?’ The session to be attended by Ross Thompson, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer, Abu Dhabi Ports, Khalid Hashim, Managing Director of Precious Shipping; Tim Power, Managing Director of Drewry; and Rayan Qutub, Chief Executive Officer of King Abdullah Port. The fifth and final session will revolve around ‘Finance for Shipping.’ The discussion will be attended by Bora Bariman, Head of Energy & Marine, Corporate and Institutional Banking of National Bank of Fujairah, Jacob Berman, Managing Director, Infrastructure and Transportation of Standard Chartered Bank; Adrian Economakis, Chief Operating Officer of VesselsValue; Domenik Nizet, Senior Vice President, Shipping Finance, Asia Pacific & Middle East of DVB Bank SE.
The UAE Maritime Week 2018 is expected to attract more than 400 exhibitors from leading international maritime companies and over 8,000 visitors. Participating leading local, regional, and global maritime experts will discuss the latest industry developments and review Dubai’s most important maritime solutions and promising opportunities. In addition to the Dubai Maritime Summit, the UAE Maritime Week will also feature other events such as the Maritime Future Leaders Seminar; the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Conference; and the Sea Trade Middle East Maritime Exhibition, the largest maritime exhibition in the Middle East; and the SeaTrade ME Maritime Awards. The ‘Maritime Innovation Day’ organized by DMCA in cooperation with Det Norske Veritas GL (DNV GL) will also be held as well as the Overseas Conference organized by Clarksons Platou, a global leader in maritime brokerage and investment banking.
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