Saudi Maritime Congress Highlights Shipping and Logistics Sectors

With its economic diversification efforts; policy reforms and foreign direct investment commitments over the next five years, the eyes of the shipping world are on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as it fast tracks to becoming a world leading maritime hub.

The 4^th edition of Saudi Maritime Congress will take place in Dammam from 20-21^st September 2023 and put the spotlight on the scope of opportunity within this burgeoning sector and the fast-growing maritime logistics potential.

According to Chris Morley, Group Director Seatrade Maritime, organisers of the event: “Progress on maritime transport infrastructure forms part of a wider strategy aimed at developing the domestic ports and logistics sector. 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.”

Through its comprehensive – and free-to-attend – conference programme, the Congress will deep dive on Vision2030 and its objectives set out for the maritime & logistics sectors.

“The improvements in Saudi maritime logistics are expected to boost port revenue, an increasingly important non-oil source of growth. 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,” added Morley.

The two-day exhibition and conference takes place again at Dhahran Expo, Dammam, KSA, and follows on from a highly successful event in 2022 which saw an international audience of 3,757 visitors take part and attracting key maritime executives, leading suppliers of marine equipment and services, and crucially, those responsible for shaping the KSA maritime landscape for the future.

The importance of the Congress

Emphasising the importance of the Congress, several key industry names have signed up to make industry and keynote addresses and include Nancy W. Karigithu, Principal Secretary State Department for Shipping and Maritime, Kenya; Erik Jensby, Head of Business Development and Membership, BIMCO; John McDonald, EVP and COO, ABS. Keeping panel sessions across the 2 days short and sharp, more than 30 speakers are already lined up and will discuss topics ranging from shipmanagement; maritime education; ESG to Mega strategies for the future of the maritime industry for the Kingdom; container shipping & tanker freight market update; offshore and maritime logistics.

Complementing the programme is a bustling exhibition with companies which include MAWANI; IMI; Transport Global Authority; Saudi Global Ports Co; Grandweld; Naghi Marine Company; DP World Middle East; ASRY and more.

Entry to the exhibition and to attend the conference programme is free upon registration: Saudi Maritime Congress 2023 (visitcloud.com)