Conference Programme 2018

Event Overview

Converting Greater Optimism into Sustainable Trade Growth

The Maritime Standard Ship Finance and Trade Conference is being held at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort on 6th November 2018. This will be the fourth in an increasingly successful series of conferences that started in 2015. Each event has attracted a bigger attendance than the previous one, and this year is set to be another record-breaker. The Ship Finance and Trade Conference has gained in relevance and popularity by bringing together experts from the fields of shipping, ports, banking, finance, trade and maritime law under one roof to discuss and debate the most important contemporary trends and issues facing the market. In particular the event aims to encourage dialogue and cooperation between the various sectors represented to help achieve sustainable growth within the regional shipping and ports sectors, as well as an overall expansion in trade activity.

The 2018 Ship Finance and Trade Conference will feature a top quality panel of speakers who are keen to share their knowledge and experience with those attending the event, as well as to point the way forward. These speakers will include some of the most influential personalities and policy makers within the maritime, finance and trade sectors, all with many years of experience in their chosen fields.

The event starts with a keynote session, followed by three distinct conference sessions on a particular theme. The popular ‘one-on-one’ interview with leading innovators and thinkers will return, and there will also be plenty of opportunity to ask questions of speakers and panellists at the end of each session.

The Ship Finance and Trade Conference is now firmly established on the industry calendar and this year the quality of the speakers is poised to raise the event to another level. The event aims to be both enjoyable and informative, and will present a unique opportunity to learn from, and be guided by industry experts, as well as to have the chance to network with business leaders.

Tuesday 6th November 2018

Conference Programme Outline

09:00

Registration

09:00

Welcome Refreshments

Sponsored by : DNV GL

9:45

Welcome by

Clive Woodbridge
Conference Chairman & Editor, The Maritime Standard

9:50

Inaugural Address by

Trevor Pereira
Managing Director, The Maritime Standard

10:00

Keynote Address

H.E. Ahmed M. Shareef Alkhoori
Director General
Federal Transport Authority – Land & Marine

Capt. Mohammed Juma Al Shamisi
CEO
Abu Dhabi Ports

10:30

Main Session: Investing in Infrastructure delivery – how to unlock trade potential?

How will the Chinese government’s New Silk Road and One Belt initiatives impact on infrastructure provision and demand in the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent?
Port investments – developing strategies to support local trade growth
Sagarmala initiatives – what will be the impact on Indian trade?
Port investments in the UAE – what is the next step?
Hambantota port – a key piece in the global trade jigsaw
Assessing the climate for regional infrastructure investment

Speakers:

Capt. Abdulkareem Al Masabi
CEO
ADNOC Logistics & Services

Ross Thompson
Acting/Chief – Commercial and Strategy Officer – Ports
Abu Dhabi Ports

Michael Jorgensen
CFO
Oman Shipping Company

Dr Priyath Wickrama
Chairman
Bestar Consultancy

Saliya Wickramasuriya
Senior Advisor to CEO
Hambantota International Port Group

11:45

Panel Discussion/Question & Answer Session

12:15

Up close with:

Sanjay Mehta
Chairman
S One Capital

Bibop Gresta
Chairman
Hyperloop

12:45

Lunch

13:45

Session 2 – The Future for Ship Finance – the implications for the market in Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent

What is the future for ship finance and what will this mean for the region?
What new approaches are needed by the ship finance sector?
Are alternative lending platforms a risk too far for shipping?
Will banks reassess their long term ship finance vision?
Investing positively in uncertain market conditions
M&A activity – is there more to come and what lessons can be learned from the past?
Assessing leading regional shipowner’s plans in terms of fleet development investment.
What does the shipping industry today need from the finance sector?

Jesper Kjaedegaard (Session Chair), Partner, Mercator International

Speakers:

Bobby Varghese
Vice President- Financial Strategy
Abu Dhabi Ports

Jacob Berman
MD, Infrastructure and Transportation. Corporate & Institutional Banking
Standard Chartered

Ali Shehab
Deputy CEO
Kuwait Oil Tanker Company

Marcus Machin
Director
Tufton Oceanic (Middle East) Limited

Andrew Simmons
CEO
Global Marine Transport

Tien Tai
Regional Partner
HFW

Michael Savva
Partner
Watson Farley Williams

15:15

Panel Discussion/Question & Answer Session

15:30

Coffee Break

Sponsored by : DNV GL

15:45

Session 3 – Supporting regional trade development

What does the future hold for India’s coastal and short sea trades?
Emirates Gulf Aluminium – a case study in investing in supply chain optimisation
RAK Ports – opening up a gateway for bulk trade growth
Overcoming security barriers to trade
Maritime law expertise – the key to regional trade success
Environmental investments – a growing and urgent necessity
The chemical trades – Bahri opens the door to new markets
Developing new trade-supporting finance products

Speakers: