TOC Middle East conference and exhibition taking place 6 - 7 December 2016, Le Méridien Hotel, Dubai, UAE Keynote announced Mr Mohammed Al Muallem, SVP & Managing Director, DP World – UAE Region has been announced as the Keynote for the TOC Middle East conference. Jebel Ali Port, operated by DP World – UAE Region is the largest marine terminal in the Middle East and the flagship facility of DP World’s portfolio over 65 marine terminals across six continents. Official opening ceremony H.E. Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Non-Executive Director & Vice Chairman, DP World will officially open the TOC Middle East exhibition – which has more than 50 port technology stakeholders exhibiting. TOC Middle East to welcome South African delegation of VIPs Sihle Zikalala MPL, MEC for Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs, South Africa will attend the official opening ceremony and will also address the delegates in the conference.  Mr Zikalala’s department is responsible for all the transport and infrastructure networks in that region. Port updates Against the backdrop of slow global trade growth, the Middle East is standing out, in part because oil exporters are benefiting from the recent modest recovery in oil prices. Key players from this dynamic region will be delivering updates to the audience at TOC Middle East in Dubai this year. DP World – UAE Region are joined by other regional port operator heavyweights including Iain Rawlinson, Group Commercial Director of Gulftainer, Christian Blauert, CEO at Yilport and Mark Geilenkirchen, CEO at SOHAR Port and Freezone. In addition to hearing from port operators, the TOC audience will also hear from major port manufacturers who will deliver technology updates and will introduce the latest equipment and software available. Iran In light of the ongoing easing of sanctions against Iran, there is an increased focus on this country at TOC Middle East this year. Whilst Hanjin Shipping has recently suffered from a shock collapse, some of the world’s largest container shipping lines have been stopping in Iran for the first time in nearly a decade. Iran’s state shipping carrier, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) has seen its global ranking surge this year and currently ranks as the 22nd largest carrier. Dr Mohammad Saeedi, Chairman & MD, IRISL will deliver the afternoon Keynote presentation. With ambitious plans to move into the top 10 container shipping lines by 2021, Dr Saeedi will discuss the opportunities, achievements and challenges in delivering this growth. ICT in the spotlight The slowdown in word trade means there is a real need for the whole supply chain to invest into innovative solutions in information and communications. Emerging technological breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing and quantum computing will bring with long-term gains in efficiency and productivity for the whole sector. Discussing how this will happen, and how quickly this can happen will be Professor Christoph Wartmann, CEO at tech giant Nexiot, Alaa Mattar, COO at Almajdouie Logistics Company and Lars Jensen of SeaIntelligence Consulting.  One Belt One Road The USD $1 trillion One Belt, One Road (OBOR) plan centres on the creation of an economic land belt that includes countries on the original Silk Road through Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East and Europe. “I know it doesn’t look like much now,” Karl Gheysen, the CEO of Khorgos Gateway, stated “but we’re building a new Dubai.” Mr Gheysen will be speaking at the upcoming TOC Middle East and will outline the immense opportunities afforded by the creation of the New Silk Road. TOC newcomers Khorgos Gateway are joined at TOC Middle East by Camelot Management Consultants and India’s Hauer Associates. Sea-to-Air Dubai leads in the sea-to-air sector, and even with both air rates and sea rates low at the moment – this is still a critical mode of transport for many shippers. Liana Coyne of Coyne Airways joins this session and has stated she will “highlight some of the areas where and how sea and air operators can better co-operate to take advantage of this, in the nest interests of their clients.” Ms Coyne is joined on this Loadstar hosted session by Youssef A. Beydoun, Head of Cargo Planning & Compliance at Dubai Airports. Event format maximizes networking opportunities TOC Middle East takes place in the 5 star Le Méridien Hotel & Convention Centre in Dubai. The airport location makes the event easily accessible for international attendees, and the hotel surroundings ensure optimum networking opportunities.  The event is comprised of two concurrent debating forums – the Container Supply Chain Conference (CSC) and the TECH TOC Conference; supported by a trade exhibition where industry peers can meet suppliers, swap notes and debate the high level discussion points presented in the conference sessions. The Container Supply Chain (CSC) element is an executive-level discussion forum focused on international trade, container shipping, port development and logistics, bringing together shippers, shipping lines, 3PLs, port authorities, terminal operators, government and other key supply chain members. This is complemented by TECH TOC, designed to engage operational executives in the practicalities of port and terminal performance, with in-depth debates on facility design, automation, operations, equipment and technology from berth to gate.