DP World hosts global shipping conference

Dubai — DP World has welcomed international delegations participating in the annual Middle East Global Liner Shipping Conference 2015 in Dubai. The two-day conference was attended by industry leaders, ship owners and maritime analysts from the region and worldwide.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, said: “The Global Liner Shipping Conference is one of the global specialised conferences hosted in Dubai, making the city the destination of choice for high-level, maritime-focused events from around the world.

“This kind of event is making Dubai a global and regional hub for trade and business as well as the travel and tourism industry and follows the strategic plans to promote the role of the sector in the Dubai economy, as outlined in the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.”

In a keynote speech, Mohammed Al Muallem, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DP World, UAE Region, presented details of the initiatives, automation and infrastructure DP World has put in place to improve productivity at Jebel Ali Port.

“For port operators to continue meeting customer needs and to add value to the supply chain, four key factors apply — the need for modern infrastructure, capacity, automation and multimodal transport capabilities,” said Al Muallem. “From our experience at Jebel Ali, sustainability can only be achieved through innovation and superior performance that benefit customers,” he added.

Al Muallem said: “On the back of the geopolitical situation around the world, the fall in oil prices, recession and slower growth risk some regions. Together with the rapid changing shipping industry, challenges will potentially impact the supply chain sector, and it is our call to make it positive.”

According to industry commentators Alphaliner, the capacity of the global container fleet grew by 6.3 per cent in 2014 to reach 18.37 million TEU.

— business@khaleejtimes.com