Top level speakers from the worlds of finance, banking, ports, shipping and maritime law are set to take part in the upcoming inaugural Maritime Standard Ship Finance & Trade Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Organised by The Maritime Standard (TMS), the event will take place November 29 and 30 at Park Hyatt Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The event is endorsed by Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime UAE, and is hosted by Abu Dhabi Ports.

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, said: “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 calibre of the speakers confirmed is exceptionally high quality.

Sheikh Talal-al-Khalid Al-Sabah, CEO of Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), said: “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 ship-owners 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,” he added.

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.

“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,” Pereira added. – TradeArabia News Service