DOHA: Qatar Trade Summit, which will bring together business leaders from across the world to advance Qatar’s vision for trade and business excellence globally, will open today at the InterContinental Doha The City. The three-day event will host global thought leaders, industry stakeholders and experts from the fields of sea ports, air cargo, supply chain and logistics.
The summit will discuss various topics including the ‘Impact of Ports and Shipping in regional economic progress’, ‘Air Cargo sector and its influence on bridging regional markets’, ‘Supply chain logistics and trends & Future of Logistics’, ‘Workshop One: Made in Qatar – Explore the potential of bringing your business to the region’, and ‘Workshop Two: Global strategic partnerships workshop’.
Speaking about the challenges and business climate in the Middle East and in Qatar, James Baker, Editor at the UK-based Llyods List Container, said: “Despite the challenges facing the global container shipping sector, the Middle East is emerging as one of the bright spots. Transported volumes are increasing and global carriers are adding more services to the region as demand rises. The region’s strategic location on the midway point of China’s ambitious Belt and Road project has led to increased interest in container terminal developments. In the first nine months of this year alone, Qatari ports saw volumes rise by 2 percent to over 1m teu.”
Bertrand Maltaverne, Solutions Consultant at Austria-based Ivaula Inc, added: “The Logistics market in Qatar is at a growth stage and a steady one at that for the last 5-10 years, with the new expansion plans in the country, the upcoming major Q22 event, and the ambitious plans of the Qatari leadership to grow the country into a new regional logistical hub, and a major global LNG supplier”.
Amadou Diallo, CEO for DHL Global Forwarding, Middle East & Africa, said: “I am personally convinced that Qatar will become a global technology and life sciences and healthcare logistics hub for time and temperature sensitive goods, thanks to its airports and logistics infrastructure. Qatar will become a global platform for “Connecting People, Improving lives”.
The exclusive and high level summit and trade exchange event will be also provide networking opportunities for participants across the supply chain, logistics, and trade sectors of Qatar. Prominent industry leaders will be delivering keynote speeches during the 3-day event, including Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker, Director General of Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) and Chairman of the Federation of Arab Ports & The Arab Transport Sector Sheikh Yousef Abdullah Al Nasser Al Sabah, Mwani Qatar CEO Capt. Abdulla Al Khanji, Qatar Financial Centre CEO & Board Member Yousuf Al Jaida.
