Riyadh – Mubasher: The fourth edition of Saudi Maritime Congress will kick off in September for two days to shed light on the scope of opportunity within the growing maritime industry and its logistics potential, according to a press release.
The event will take place at Dhahran Expo in Saudi Arabia’s Dammam City during 20-21 September 2023, with the participation of more than 70 speakers.
Saudi Maritime Congress will discuss various topics such as ship management, maritime education, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations, and mega strategies for the maritime industry future in Saudi Arabia. Additional subjects will include container shipping and tanker freight market updates, in addition to offshore and maritime logistics.
Meanwhile, the involved entities comprise Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), International Maritime Industries (IMI), Transport General Authority, Saudi Global Ports Company, Grandweld, Naghi Marine Company, DP World, Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY), and more.
Among the exhibitors will be the Tadawul-listed oil giant Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Aramco).
Meanwhile, the first day of Saudi Maritime Congress will witness compelling keynotes from the listed National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri), the founding strategic partner. In addition, a prominent highlight will be the Saudi Arabia Outlook keynote session which will feature the President and CEO of IMI, Abdulla Alahmari.
Content Director at the event’s organiser, Seatrade Maritime, Emma Howell, said: "We take immense pride in both the agenda we have put together and the commitment showcased by the industry luminaries who have pledged their involvement in the Saudi Maritime Congress. The caliber of speakers stands as the ultimate testament to the programme's excellence."
Meanwhile, Chris Morley, Group Director at Seatrade Maritime, noted: "Given the diversity inherent in the maritime and logistics industry, we have collaborated closely with our strategic partners to develop a programme that captures this diversity while offering in-depth insights into the subjects of universal importance."
Maritime Outlook
Morley earlier commented: “We expect maritime logistics to be a fast-growing activity in 2023‑27, supported by the government's ambitious aim of making Saudi Arabia the leading regional logistics hub.”
He further noted that the improvements in the Saudi maritime logistics sector will likely endorse port revenue, which is an increasingly significant non-oil source of growth.
Morley concluded: “By building out inland logistics hubs and enhancing rail connectivity, the Kingdom is looking to more than quadruple the country’s annual container throughput to 40 million TEU by 2030. The ambitions of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan are quite clearly matched by the scale of so-called giga projects such as the $500 billion Neom scheme or the plans for the Oxagon port which will be the largest floating structure in the world.”
In 2022, the third edition of Saudi Maritime Congress gathered 3,757 visitors from across the globe to take part while attracting key maritime executives, leading suppliers of marine equipment and services, in addition to those responsible for shaping Saudi Arabia’s maritime landscape for the future.
