As thousands of shipping professionals prepare to gather in Dammam this September for Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress 2024, the Kingdom’s Transport General Authority (TGA) has advised attendees ‘the reasons for attending are obvious: you get to be part of the conversation. Throughout the course of the event, participants will allow networking between thousands of attendees from across the globe and at every level of the industry’.
Speaking to Seatrade Maritime, organisers of the event, ahead of the global gathering from 18-19th September, Eng. Essam M Alammari, Deputy for Maritime Transport, TGA, Saudi Arabia, added: “As we have seen from its progressive growth in attendance, which stood at an impressive 95% in 2023, Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress has become a key regional forum for the exchange of ideas between the brightest and best the industry has to offer.
“From policy makers to investors, industry professionals to academics, the strength of this Congress is indebted to the diversity of its attendees.
“The participation not only of TGA, but of our partners in MAWANI, Bahri, Saudi Aramco and others, is a strong signal that the Kingdom’s policy makers and industry giants are committed to the important dialogue taking place over the direction of travel of shipping. All of these entities have helped to shape the agenda and attract the speakers we will hear from throughout the Congress.
“Attendees will also benefit from a programme which focuses on the most critical questions of the future: supply chain resilience, digitization, sustainability, automation to name a few. Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress is no longer a regional conference, but a global one, and it is TGA’s hope that it continues to grow.”
The two day exhibition and conference takes place at Dhahran Expo, Dammam from 18-19th September 2024 and is held with Founding Strategic Partners, Bahri and Seatrade Maritime. With its main partners, The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) and the Transport General Authority (TGA), and strategic partners, Saudi Aramco and IMI, this year’s event is set to break previous attendance records, helped by the necessity to add an extra hall to the exhibition to feature local and international exhibitors.
Through its comprehensive conference programme, event discussion will be had around the progress Saudi Arabia has made towards Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of building a unique regional logistics hub.
As part of this vision, TGA is working on an international level to advance cooperation with IMO Member States to seek opportunities to enhance global connectivity to the Kingdom.
H.E. Alammari added: “In 2024, Saudi Arabia ranked 16th globally out of 187 countries by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), reflecting the concerted efforts by the Kingdom to increase global maritime connectivity and capitalise on the Kingdom’s strategic location in line with the aspirations of Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia continues to develop the Port of NEOM and NEOM’s OXAGON to be one of the world’s first fully integrated port and supply chains system.”
Adding to this, Chris Morley, Group Director of Seatrade Maritime, said, “The transport and logistics sectors are undoubtedly significant drivers of the Kingdom’s economy. The Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress brings these vital sectors together at an unrivalled scale creating maximum value for attendees, exhibitors and the Kingdom alike.”
“This event has seen remarkable growth,” added Morley. “And, this year, we can expect to see over 10,000 attendees from across 70+ countries; a record 200+ exhibitors and a conference programme that brings together nearly 70 international speakers. Our ultimate aim is to facilitate fruitful cooperation between the public and private sector entities that catalyses growth for our industry.”
