Breakbulk Middle East (BBME), the exhibition dedicated to the region’s port, cargo and bulk goods handling sector, will be held in Dubai on February 9-10 next year.
According to the organisers of event, DP World, UAE Region, will again serve as the host port for the third consecutive time for the event which has been running for six years now. The last edition of the event, held early on this year, saw the attendance of Arab transport ministers and government officials from Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, with 3,444 visitors, and 1,663 companies from 72 countries participating.
Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE minister of Energy and Infrastructure said: “Rapid transformation and development has taken place over the course of the last year. In regard to the UAE, some of the country’s most notable changes include having successfully elevated our global and regional maritime standing, drafting a new maritime law to suit emerging needs of the industry, and securing a second consecutive term as a Category-B Member within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council. Breakbulk Middle East has shown great promise by growing yearly, especially in Dubai, and producing tremendous results. BBME’s ability to unite industry leaders, promote collaboration, and foster necessary solutions is of great benefit to the entire industrial supply chain. With that said, we look forward to witnessing how the sixth annual edition will elevate its service offering even further to provide added contributions to the UAE.”
The organisers added that despite the current industry challenges, the UAE is continuing its efforts to increase the country’s competitive role in global trade and the international economy. The FTA has emphasized that the country will expand the development of local ports with a total investment of $42.7bn over the coming years. Strong collaboration between Breakbulk Middle East and DP World, UAE Region, has proved to be advantageous for enhancement of the country’s competitiveness, said Breakbulk Events, the organisers.
Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and MD of DP World, UAE Region, said: “The UAE has been among the fastest economies in the MENA region to resume commercial activities previously halted to curb the spread of Covid-19. Precautionary measures and safety protocols have been formulated for ensuring business continuity. As port development in the region reaches new heights, capitalising on opportunities is what a successful future will remain dependent upon. We are focusing on supporting businesses with multimodal connectivity through the Jebel Ali hub that offers access to a market of over 3.5 billion consumers.”
Ahmed Sharif Al Khouri, director general of the Federal Transportation Authority for Land and Maritime, said: “The Covid-19 crisis has been impacting every aspect of life and work. The pandemic has also underpinned the need for businesses to be agile to remain competitive. The country has demonstrated in its fight against this pandemic resilience as well its emergency response readiness, and successful planning and action. Now with a gradual return to normalcy, the nation serves as a model for how public and private collaboration is crucial in addressing challenges.”
Ben Blamire, event director, Breakbulk Middle East, added: “Industries worldwide, including the events sector, have been severely impacted by Covid-19. We have been challenged to assess our business model and recalibrate our portfolio. However, with every challenge comes opportunity and we’ve kept moving forward, leveraging new initiatives to maintain our successful status especially in the MENA region. The active participation, engagement and collaboration between many industry experts is what has helped Breakbulk Middle East maintain its position as the fastest growing event in our global portfolio. As these quantitative results become increasingly visible over the coming months, we are excited to begin gearing up for another edition of the event which will help further solidify the standing of the UAE and extended Middle East.”
