The Bahrain General Organisation of Sea Ports (GOP) will host the 5th Trans Middle East Conference, the largest annual container ports, shipping and logistics trade exhibition and conference in the Middle East for the first time in the Kingdom.

The event will be held at the Gulf Hotel from November 24 to 25 under the patronage of Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of the GOP.

Enhancing Bahrain's region-leading position in the field of shipping and ports, the conference is an important annual forum on shipping, sea ports and maritime transportation.

This year around 500 international sea freight conference delegates and 100 international exhibitors from the maritime transport and logistics industry are expected to attend the conference.

This year’s conference will feature 35 world-class senior executive-level speakers highlighting the latest issues affecting the development of cargo shipping and transport logistics in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Topics to be covered include shipping development in the Middle East, future planning by logistic companies, sustainable development and innovations to enhance the shipping and seaport industry.

Shaikh Daij will deliver the keynote address on the opening day of the event. Other senior members of the GOP management to be present at the event include Hassan Ali Al Majed, director general of the GOP, Hamad Mohammed Fakhro, assistant director general of the Bahrain Logistics Zone and Captain Abdul Hussein Abdullah, head of Maritime Safety and Environmental Protection.

Commenting on the event, Shaikh Daij said the conference will serve as an opportunity to highlight the role being played by the Kingdom in the field of maritime and logistics locally, regionally and internationally.

'GOP’s professional performance and strategic planning in co-operation with both the public and the private sectors is a reflection of its successful achievements,' he noted.

“We are privileged to host this conference for the first time in Bahrain, emphasizing the Kingdom's regional and international prominence as a business and financial hub. We hope that the participants will benefit from the globally important views which will be presented at the conference, together with GOP's experience,' Sheikh Daij added.

Last year’s Trans Middle East conference was held in the UAE and attracted 350 international sea and air freight conference delegates plus 80 international sea and air cargo-handling exhibitors and sponsors.-TradeArabia News Service