MAIN STAGE AGENDA

By invite only 

The MENA region is home to many of the world’s largest projects currently under construction. From NEOM in Saudi Arabia to the North Field East LNG expansion in Qatar. In addition to this, the increased focus on sustainability is providing a wealth of renewable and green energy project opportunities. This session will provide a snapshot of the regional project market as it stands today and include an overview of the EICs Survive & Thrive report. What projects are currently underway? What stage are they at? What projects are coming up? What industries are booming? Don’t miss this session if you want to keep your finger on the pulse and have a real understanding of the lay of the land in the region.

The outlook for the MPV fleet continues to be the centre of much industry discussion. With increasing build costs, longer lead times and changing sustainability targets, it makes bridging the current gap in supply ever more challenging. The current order book is extremely fragmented and current builds are proceeding considering the need for retrofitting in the future. This session will provide an overview of the current status of the MPV fleet and review the forward schedule to identify any crunch points in supply where the industry will need to forward plan to navigate through any shortages.

The Middle East is thriving when it comes to projects, and the overall business outlook is positive. However, as always, market forces are pulling in different directions causing challenges along the way. From capacity issues, to a lack of supply in the market to service project demands and inflation on the rise, there is an ongoing balancing act for businesses to successfully deliver project services in the region. This panel will come together to dive deeper into the key challenges and opportunities in the market heading into 2024 and look at solutions to ensure business success looking ahead.

• Capacity
• Inflation and impact on the market
• Possible recession on the horizon
• Geopolitical tensions  
• Shift in where goods are coming from e.g. away from China to other parts of Asia

With current mega projects announced across the Middle East, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, this session will look more closely at what the demand and supply looks like now and within the next 5 years both internationally and nationally. What resources are required to service these projects and what type of equipment is in the highest demand? Our panellists will review challenges when it comes to human capital as well as how technology and AI might optimise the available resources to reduce demand.   

East Africa is a region on the rise when it comes to project activity. Developing a reliable power sector is top of the agenda and with major oil and gas projects taking shape - the region is experiencing a transformation. This panel will bring together project experts from across East Africa to discuss the nuances of doing business in the region and discuss top tips on successfully entering the market.

Session sponsored by CEVA Logistics

Project activity is soaring in Saudi Arabia and opportunities for involvement from the project cargo supply chain continue to grow. Despite this, the majority of cargo being moved throughout the Red Sea at the moment is containerised. This session will bring industry professionals working on the ground in Saudi Arabia together to discuss the timelines and next steps in these major giga-projects and highlight when the real project moves will begin and what this means for new opportunities for involvement.

The talent gap experienced in the global breakbulk industry continues to worsen. Many companies are facing challenges when it comes to succession planning as there is a lack of recruits working their way through their careers in the company. The industry needs to become aware of what graduates are looking for in a role today, where sustainability initiatives and culture play a vital role in companies candidates choose. This panel will come together to talk practically about what we can collaboratively do to help overcome this challenge, touch base with what candidates value and review methods of promoting the industry to the next generation with all the exciting benefits that come from working in this brilliant sector.

To encourage further inclusion, Breakbulk Middle East brings together women from different sectors to share their perspectives on building a successful career in the maritime, project cargo and breakbulk industry. Women in the industry offer insightful tips and advice for women from all sectors on how they too can climb the ranks and change the narrative on an industry that is progressing in the right direction.

As freight rates and asset availability continue to fluctuate causing volatility in the market, there is a need for the industry to come together to agree on a more flexible and efficient way to do business. This panel will discuss the changing nature of contracting and debate what format works best when there is volatility in the market. With a need for consolidation and minimising waste, our panellists will discuss how to best navigate this changing situation to reduce the pressure when relying on an ever more limited resource pool.  
 

In today's digitised world, a strong brand presence isn't just about visibility; it's about adaptability, relevance, and resonance. Companies in the shipping, logistics, trade, and energy sectors are faced with a unique challenge: How to harness vast amounts of data to craft a brand narrative, both for business and the professionals that serve them, that will stand the test of time, fully embracing technology. This session offers an in-depth look at disruptive branding strategies informed by data analytics.

The industry is making good progress towards the energy transition, however, the next steps in reaching zero carbon shipping are now presenting new requirements and challenges. Infrastructure to support carbon capture, as well as other changes, such as providing alternative fuels to ports are all obstacles the industry is looking to overcome. In addition to this, the introduction of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the prediction that this will lead to other similar systems being introduced globally is causing additional pressure on the supply chain. This panel will come together to discuss their journey towards decarbonisation and what opportunities and challenges are most pertinent heading into 2024.