Turning Theory into Reality

14 June 2015, Abu Dhabi: The first Maritime Standard Ship Finance & Trade Conference, organised by The Maritime Standard (TMS), will take place this year on 29-30 November at Park Hyatt Hotel in Abu Dhabi.  The event, which is endorsed by Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime UAE, and being hosted by Abu Dhabi Ports, will feature top level speakers from the worlds of finance, banking, ports, shipping and  maritime law.

The inaugural conference aims to bring together experts from these various fields with a view towards generating fresh investment for the shipping and ports industries, to the benefit of regional trade across the Middle East and Indian subcontinent.  Trevor Pereira, TMS managing director, says, ”We want to focus on how to turn financial  theory into  shipping and trade reality, and provide a high-level forum that through insightful speeches and networking opportunities generates mutual benefit to finance and shipping companies.”

The event will start with a networking reception on 29 November, against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which is being held that same day.  The conference itself starts on the following day, 30 November, and the caliber of the speakers confirmed is exceptionally high quality.  The keynote speaker session will feature presentations by H.E. Sheikh Talal-al-Khalid Al-Sabah, CEO of Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC); H.E. Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, chairman and managing director of Milaha; H.E. Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, vice chairman for DP World and group CEO for Dubai World;  H.E. Dr. Ali Obaid Al-Yabhouni, CEO for Abu Dhabi National Tanker Company (ADNATCO) and National Gas Shipping Company Ltd (NGSCO), UAE governor for OPEC and chairman for The UAE Shipping Association; H. E. The Honorable Shaukat Aziz, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan; Capt. Mohamed Al Shamisi, CEO for Abu Dhabi Ports Company; Eng. RashedAl Hebsi, CEO for Emirates Classification (TASNEEF); and Petros Doukas, former deputy minister of Finance and former deputy minister of foreign affairs.

H.E. Sheikh Talal-al-Khalid Al-Sabah, CEO of Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), says, “The shipping industry is a hugely important market for the banking and finance sector and there are significant opportunities for growth over the next few years. Middle Eastern and Subcontinent-based shipowners are looking to expand and enhance their fleets, and are buying new and bigger vessels, and port operators are seeking to boost capacity accordingly to meet their customer’s requirements. It is particularly appropriate that this event is being held in Abu Dhabi, at the heart of the Gulf region, and I am sure it will provide a valuable opportunity for the shipping, ports and financial sectors to meet and plan to work together to mutual benefit over the years to come.”

There will be special sessions on regional trade patterns and ship finance; ports and shipping; and case studies showing how the finance sector has helped unlock the potential of the shipping and ports sector to benefit trade and economic development.  Each session will be followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Clive Woodbridge, editor of The Maritime Standard, and featuring some of the region’s top executives.

Trevor Pereira adds, “This is going to be a hugely important event that will bring together some of the most influential players in shipping, finance and port operations.  The world will want to hear what they have to say, and already demand for conference places is exceeding all expectations.”