Reinforcing the significance of the Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress in Dammam, which takes place from Sept. 18-19, several new speakers have been confirmed to the conference lineup, adding some heavyweight industry knowledge to the two-day program.

The event’s fifth edition is being held under the auspices of Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, who will also make the keynote address on Day 1.

Additionally, Bahri CEO Ahmed Alsubaey, IMI CEO Abdullah Al-Ghamdi and Transport General Authority Deputy for Maritime Transport Essam M. Alammari are all now confirmed at the shipping and logistics conference and exhibition. The event will take place at Dhahran Expo and is free for industry to attend.

Also joining the prestigious speaker parade is Kaupo Laanerand, deputy minister for maritime and water affairs, Ministry of Climate, Estonia, and Poul Hestbaek, CEO, Folk Maritime.

Chris Morley, group director, Seatrade Maritime, the organizers of the event, said: “The high-profile speaker lineup is testament to the importance of this event in the shipping calendar. As the industry gathers in the Kingdom, it allows for attendees to listen and learn from industry experts and be part of discussions that impact many facets of this global industry.”

He added: “Our ultimate aim is to facilitate fruitful cooperation between the public and private sector entities that catalyzes growth for our industry.”

Over the course of the event, topics under the spotlight will include: Interconnected logistics and the supply chain of the future; Shipbuilding and repair; Digitization of maritime: The adoption of AI and machine learning; Offshore safety: The importance of maintaining world-class safety standards; and Energy transition for a sustainable future and workforce development.

The conference agenda will start with keynotes and an international virtual address from International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, as well as an industry keynote from ABS Senior Vice President Gareth Burton.

Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress is being held with founding partners Bahri and Seatrade Maritime. With its main partners, The Saudi Ports Authority, known as Mawani, and the TGA, as well as strategic partners Saudi Aramco and IMI, the event expects more than 10,000 attendees from across 70+ countries; in addition to a record 200+ exhibitors and scores of local, regional and international speakers.

Alammari, deputy for maritime transport, TGA, said: “As we have seen from its progressive growth in attendance, which stood at an impressive 95 percent in 2023, Saudi Maritime and 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.”

He added: “Saudi Maritime and Logistics Congress is no longer a regional conference, but a global one, and it is TGA’s hope that it continues to grow.”

The TGA is working on an international level to advance cooperation with IMO member states to enhance global connectivity to the Kingdom.

Alammari said: “In 2024, Saudi Arabia ranked 16th globally out of 187 countries by the UN Conference on Trade and Development, reflecting the concerted efforts by the Kingdom to increase global maritime connectivity and capitalize 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 chain systems.”

The two-day event will bring together experts and specialists from the global maritime transport and logistics sector to share knowledge, experiences, and insights. It also seeks to foster investment and strategic partnerships, explore opportunities for growth, and support the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The event will also provide recommendations and proposals that will improve the maritime transport industry and enhance the sustainability of logistics services in accordance with international standards and leading models.

Saudi Arabia’s Social Development Bank concluded the FintechHub program in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and its Empretec program, with support from Fintech Saudi. This initiative marks the first of its kind under the Empretec Center and is part of SDB’s ongoing commitment to driving innovation and supporting entrepreneurship in the financial technology sector.

Held from Sept. 8-12 in Riyadh, the FintechHub program focused on fostering innovation in financial technology by developing a robust economic ecosystem designed to support emerging ventures and aspiring entrepreneurs. Participants were introduced to the latest trends in fintech and provided with knowledge and tools to develop their projects and achieve sustainable success.

The program highlights SDB’s strong collaboration with key players in the financial technology sector, including Fintech Saudi, which plays a pivotal role in enhancing the Kingdom’s fintech ecosystem. The initiative is also supported by certified trainers from the Empretec program, alongside leading global fintech entrepreneurs, offering participants access to expertise and industry insights.

Throughout the program, participants explored cutting-edge technologies and innovations to ensure they stay ahead of market developments. They also learned how to create sustainable, effective business models aligned with consumer needs and designed to drive economic growth. 

In addition, the program provided a valuable networking platform, enabling participants to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and industry leaders, further supporting their journey toward success.

As part of the program’s activities, participants had the opportunity to present their projects to a group of prominent investors in the Kingdom, including Rakan Al-Fadl from Takamol, Abdullah Al-Duwaish from Flat6Labs, and Philip Matos, CEO of ABstartups. The program also featured inspiring talks from successful local entrepreneurs, including Maher Loubieh, CEO and co-founder of HALA, who shared his experience and insights on building a startup in the fintech sector.

The FintechHub program culminated in the graduation of 26 entrepreneurs specializing in tech startups, showcasing the initiative’s success in building a strong foundation of business leaders within the financial technology space.

This program underscores SDB’s dedication to supporting the growth of the fintech sector and promoting sustainable economic development through innovation and entrepreneurship.