Farid Belbouab

GT Group CEO Gulftainer

Mr. Farid Belbouab is a distinguished global leader in maritime, port, and logistics.
With over two decades of international experience, he has successfully led some of the world’s 
most prominent shipping and logistics organizations, shaping their strategic direction and 
driving operational excellence.

His career spans CMA CGM, one of the world’s largest container shipping groups, and Meratus 
Group, the largest ship owner in Southeast Asia.

During his 13 years at CMA CGM, Mr. Farid held senior leadership roles across Indonesia, 
Singapore, Hong Kong, North of Africa, Saudi Arabia, the Horn of Africa, and at the Dubai 
Regional Office, where he oversaw operations across Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian 
Ocean. He played a pivotal role in expanding regional networks, optimizing trade routes, 
improving terminal performance, and launching digital and customer-centric supply chain 
solutions.

His contributions strengthened CMA CGM’s presence across emerging markets and 
demonstrated his deep expertise in global trade, maritime operations, and logistics 
transformation.

Mr. Farid brought this global expertise to MeratusGroup, where he made a lasting mark on Asia’s 
maritime and logistics landscape.
He led the management and operation of a fleet of over 100 vessels including container, bulk, 
and tanker ships, overseeing more than 8,000 employees across 40 ports and routes. Under his 
leadership, Meratus launched digital platforms such as Meratus Smart Financing, expanded 
into advanced cold-chain logistics, and implemented sustainability initiatives to reduce 
greenhouse-gas emissions. He also drove the development of Indonesia’s largest private port 
network and successfully established 22 inland container logistic hubs within five years, 
reinforcing the group’s position as a national logistics champion.

Building on his global experience, he is now steering Gulftainer into a new era of integrated 
maritime and logistics leadership. While the company has long excelled in port operations, 
terminal management, and logistics, he is driving its strategic expansion into industrial parks 
and shipping, connecting markets across the U.S., Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and beyond.
Under his guidance, Gulftainer is evolving into a fully integrated, future-ready logistics 
powerhouse.

Educated at Sorbonne University in International and Private Law and INSEAD, he is driven by a 
passion for people development, innovation, and supply chain transformation.
He fosters a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and operational excellence, ensuring 
that the organizations he leads achieve measurable impact on both regional and global scales.
Mr. Farid is widely respected in the maritime and logistics industry for his strategic vision, 
decisive leadership, and ability to drive large-scale transformation, leaving a lasting impact on 
the industry and inspiring the next generation of maritime, port, and logistics leaders