UAE: GPCA to Make Issue of Piracy Key Topic of Discussion at Supply Chain Conference

According to official statistics, organized piracy has become a major threat to regional trade and maritime security, costing the global economy between $7 and $12bn per year. Piracy attacks have also been on the rise this year throughout the region as the use of mother ships facilitated piracy activity.

These staggering statistics have prompted the GPCA to make the issue of piracy a key topic of discussion at next week’s Third GPCA Supply Chain Conference.

Over 300 senior professionals from the GCC region and worldwide are expected to attend this high-level event taking place at the InterContinental Hotel, Abu Dhabi from 18-20 October 2011.

The theme ‘From piracy to personnel: Facing realities and turning supply chain challenges into opportunities’ will be dealt with by an equally impressive line-up of speakers including Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, CEO, Saudi Railway Company (SAR) and Mr. Richard Bowker, CEO, Etihad Rail who will assess where and how the region’s high profile rail developments will impact the petrochemical supply chain. Mr. Nikita Andreev, Principal, Camelot Management Consultants AG will address various sales and operations issues and share his insight on how one can improve margins and run a lean supply chain.

In addition to these in-depth discussions, this year there will also be a pre-conference workshop on mitigating the effects of piracy on petrochemical and chemical trade flows, as well as a planned site visit to the impressive Khalifa Port for delegates.

“Increased piracy calls for increased insurance and this is no more evident than in the Middle East. The UAE and the rest of the GCC are highly dependent on daily shipments of everything from perishable foods and electronics to clothing and household goods from Europe and Asia, making all of us vulnerable to the trickle-down effects of higher shipping costs. We have to work together to combat this major issue,” said Dr. Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA.

The overall theme of this year’s event ‘Strengthening the supply chain against challenges and threats’ is designed to aid dialogue on issues related to the opportunities and challenges within this industry. In addition to piracy, subjects that will be tackled include GCC customs regulation, staffing challenges, sustainability and responsible care, third party logistics as well as the strategies needed to mitigate the impact of long supply chains.

A welcome address on day one by Mr. Hamad Al Terkait, Chairman – Supply Chain Committee, GPCA and President and CEO, EQUATE Petrochemical Co. will be followed by a keynote speech by H. E. Rashed Saud Al Shamsi, Petrochemicals Director, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) and Chairman, Borouge Pte. The latter will focus on the key challenges and opportunities for the GCC supply chain both present and in the future.

Mr. Graham Hoar, Vice President – Middle East, Nexant, will provide delegates with a Middle East chemical sector overview, while other distinguished local spokespeople will elaborate on overcoming challenges here in the region, improving supply chain management using a Saudi ARAMCO case study and more specific topics such as port infrastructure, a topic that will be addressed by Mr. Dirk Van Den Bosch, Chief Commercial Officer – UAE Region, DP World.

Day 1 will continue with Mr. Mohamed Al-Mazeedi, Vice President – Middle East Region, UASC (United Arab Shipping Company), providing both global and regional perspective on container shipping.

Ensuring sustainability and responsible care in the supply chain is a hot topic that will be tackled by Mr. Gary Hanifan, Global Lead, Supply Chain Management Practice, Accenture.

A panel discussion on overcoming staffing challenges on Day 2 will be led by Mr. Bahiej Al-Biqawi, Supply Chain Management Group, Almajdouie Group, Board Member, Middle East Logistics Institute (MELI) and Mr. Salah Al-Kharaz, Integrated Supply Chain Leader, EQUATE Petrochemical Co. Dr. Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, will give the closing address.

The Third GPCA Supply Chain Conference is a calendar event for the GPCA – a voluntary, non-profit association representing the interests and concerns of the petrochemicals and chemicals industry in the Gulf. The event is co-organized by ICIS, the leading provider of market intelligence for the global chemical industry.