The opportunities in Saudi Arabia’s ports and shipping sector will be highlighted by the government heads of transport and of economy and planning at a summit in Damman in November.

 

Dr Jubarah Bin Eid Al-Suraiseri, Minister of Transport, will address more than 200 maritime professionals at the inaugural Saudi Maritime Congress, which will take place on November 25 and 26 at the Sheraton Dammam Hotel and Towers.

 

The minister will head a line-up of 15 top industry leaders, international analysts and academics with an insightful session on Saudi Arabia’s current economic outlook, said a statement.

 

The event, which is being organized by Seatrade in strategic partnership with Saudi shipping giant Bahri and under the patronage of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Transport and the Saudi Ports Authority, will also feature a high-level opening panel session, to debate the investment strategies being implemented to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding economy.

 

Chris Hayman, chairman of Seatrade, said: “Saudi Arabia is experiencing exponential growth across its ports and shipping network with a healthy $30 billion pipeline of sea and land mega-projects under the government’s current five-year plan and a total investment of $100 billion through to 2020. 

 

“With the recent news of plans for development of a world-class maritime yard following the MoU signing between Saudi Aramco and the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) and Sembcorp Marine, the kingdom is moving towards a new era in maritime services and the congress is a timely platform for high-level industry discussion.”

 

A series of focused panel discussions and presentations will offer an insight into key aspects of the region’s dynamic maritime sector, including an overview of offshore oil and gas development in the Red Sea, Gulf and the kingdom, with Saleh Al-Jasser, CEO of The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri), providing a pertinent analysis of the growing sector in light of the launch of the company’s gas and offshore business unit.

 

The ‘Careers in Shipping’ session will address the kingdom’s pressing need to create some three million jobs for Saudi Arabian nationals by 2015 as per the kingdom’s Ministry of Labour, with the maritime sector an obvious driver for long term career opportunities. 

 

A panel of local experts will explore how Saudi Arabia’s FDI inflow, which stood at $12.2 billion in 2012 according to the UN World Investment Report 2013, can be used to help to create new jobs in the maritime, trade and logistics sectors.

 

“The Gulf’s position as an emerging hub for maritime services excellence and world-class facilities is bringing a wealth of new opportunities to the region’s operators and international investment to its shores. The congress will offer key players from across the industry a unique environment in which to crystallise strategies, share innovative insight and build successful business relationships,” said Hayman.

 

Other session topics include discussions on Saudi Arabia’s changing regulatory environment and its expected impact on the industry, ship operations and security, a shipyard update and analysis current project opportunities, expansion and future development in the Kingdom, and logistics solutions for ports and terminals to meet the challenges of expanding cargo volumes and the role of automation in efficient port operations.

 

The event will also feature an associated exhibition including leading shipping lines, shippers, cargo owners, forwarders, logistic companies, port terminal operators, port equipment and service suppliers. - TradeArabia News Service