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Channelling energy, inspiration and dialogue Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, shares his thoughts with Khaleej Times about Dubai as an epicentre of interest for shippers alongside the upcoming CIS Global Business Forum. Excerpts: ■■ Farhana Chowdhury Connecting economies The theme for the inaugural CIS Global Business Forum is ‘Ancient Routes — New Opportunities’. The concept of a new Silk Road, tying the economies of China and Europe via Central Asia, Turkey and the Gulf might have taken a back seat, but business momentum is continuing and investments in infrastructure and logistics along the ancient trading routes are cutting costs and creating new business realities. Dubai is set in a very strategic location and has played a major role in building these linkages. The Forum will feature sessions exploring opportunities on old trading links to neighbouring regions and beyond, as well as the new Eurasian Economic Union and other major topics including Islamic finance, energy and sustainable future, the development of the North-South transport corridor, and the profitability of economic strategy. Engaging in thought-provoking discussions The main objective of the Forum is to give the various stakeholders the opportunity to explore how they can benefit from the emerging economic synergies of the CIS region and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) with a consumer base of 350 million, and the development of stronger ties with the GCC, while managing the macroeconomic challenges. The Forum will be a platform to engage in thought-provoking discussions, oneon-one meetings and networking opportunities. The CIS GBF also aims to channel the energy, inspiration and dialogue that the Forum generates into serious business development; turning it into a place where tomorrow’s big deals are conceived and nurtured. The Forum will include discussions on potential investments and updates on the CIS’ economic forecast and predicted changes in the economic landscape. There will also be discussions on how to develop the North-South transport corridor, logistics, oil and energy, Islamic economy and finance, and building the supply chain through this new Silk Road. Trading and investment route potential We believe there is very strong potential for the GCC in developing the routes that run North-South from the Silk Road, and this Forum is an opportunity for the UAE and Gulf-based companies to explore the most promising markets of Central Asian countries. The sessions will highlight Dubai as a major driver in the shift towards real and sustainable economic partnership, which is of much interest to the business sector. Dubai can be the bridgehead for the integration of Middle Eastern economies into China and Central Asia’s global supply chain. Given its location, international connectivity, growing linkages to Africa, the quality and efficiency of its infrastructure, Dubai is an ideal nodal point for trade between Asia and Africa. The North-South Transport Corridor of this Silk Road, which links Dubai with the EEU and Russia offers immense trade and investment opportunities. For Cen-
Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Forum will include discussions on potential investments and updates on the CIS’ economic forecast as well as predicted changes in the economic landscape.
Experts to share insights
We have a very interesting and diverse line up of speakers, with a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share. Some of the key speakers include: ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■
H.E. Eng. Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy H.E. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World Dr Sahil Babayev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry, Azerbaijan Ruslan Alikhanov, President, Argo Investment Company, Russia Jean-Marc Peterschmitt, Managing Director for Countries of Operations and COO for Banking, EBRD, UK Asset Issekeshev, Minister of Investments and Development, Kazakhstan H.E. Kairat Kelimbetov, Governor, Astana International Financial Centre, Kazakhstan H.E. Ahmad Belhoul, Minister of State for Higher Education Affairs, UAE Christopher Hopkinson, First Deputy Chairman, Kazmunaygas, Kazakhstan Barbara Meynert, Chair of Digital Economy Task Force, UNESCAP, Thailand Nurlan Kussainov, Chief Executive Officer, Astana International Financial Centre Authority, Kazakhstan Aidan Karibzhanov, General Director, Visor Holding, Kazakhstan Mammad Karimov, Founder, Khazar Ventures, Azerbaijan Samson Pkhakadze, President, Wissol Group, Georgia Chris Weafer, Founding Partner, Macro Advisory Yu Jianlong, Secretary General, China Chamber of International Commerce, China Taleh Ziyadov, Director-General, Baku International Sea Trade Port, Azerbaijan Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer, flydubai, UAE Gerald Lawless, Head of Tourism and Hospitality, Dubai Holding, UAE Bakir Izetbegovic, Bosniak Member, Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Prasad Abraham, Chief Executive Officer, Al Hilal Bank, Kazakhstan H.E. Khaled Mohammed Al-Aboodi, Chief Executive Officer, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, Islamic Development Bank, Saudi Arabia Behnam Gurbanzade, Chief Executive Officer, BEST Solutions, Islamic Financing Consultant and Member, CIS Islamic Advisory Council, Azerbaijan Andrey Filatov, General Manager, Russia and CIS, IBM, Russia Kamran Siddiqi, Group Executive CEMEA, Visa, UAE Borisbiy Zhangurazov, Executive Chairman, Kaznex Invest, Kazakhstan Stuart Pann, Chief Supply Chain Officer, HP, US Andrea Catherwood, International Broadcaster
tral Asian countries, Dubai is in the epicentre of interests for a growing number of shippers in Asia and Europe. Secondly, port and storage capacity provides the shortest routes to Southeast Asia, the African continent, India and beyond. Looking at current economic and business-related issues, we will be focusing on a diverse range of current topics such as supply chain logistics, the role of giant economies such as Russia and China, the EEU in diversifying the
CIS economies, and the investment opportunities present. We will also be looking at how the automotive and electronics industries are making the most of the new rail links between China and Europe to speed route to market. What opportunities does this open up for businesses operating in the countries in between and how might global value chains change as new synergies emerge. — farhana@khaleejtimes.com
Mutual business benefits in changing economic synergies The Global Business Forum is set to host one-to-one meetings with investors to enter bilateral business partnerships in the CIS region
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ontinuing with its successful Global Business Forum (GBF) series focusing on exploring new investment opportunities in emerging markets of the world, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organising the first Commonwealth of Independent States Global Business Forum (CIS GBF 2016) entitled Commonwealth of Independent States: Ancient Routes — New Opportunities at Atlantis The Palm Hotel on February 17 and 18. The two-day event, held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will bring together a prominent delegate base of heads of states and governments, ministers and dignitaries, leading global CEOs, heads of private banks, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and a multitude of global business leaders. Held as part of the Global Business Forum series, organised by the Chamber since 2012 including the three sessions of the Africa Global Business Forum, the CIS GBF will allow investors to hold one-to-one meetings as well as to sign joint investment agreements and to enter into bilateral business partnerships with companies from different lucrative economic sectors. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber, stated that the Commonwealth of Independent States has been identified as a key market of great future potential and this forum in particular will explore the mutual business benefits that emerge from the region’s changing economic synergies as Dubai businesses will have ample scope to utilise their expertise and competitiveness in trade, tourism, logistics and financial services, which are the leading drivers of the emirate’s economic growth. Buamim further added that the forum takes place at a time of global economic slowdown and falling oil prices, which will lead to creating new business realities in various economic sectors, as well as ways to discuss enhancing of cooperation to address these global challenges faced by the business world in
light of the changing trade patterns affecting these markets. “After the revival of the Silk Road initiative that links China to Central Asia and the GCC countries, we believe that big opportunities for the Gulf region lie in reviving a Northern Corridor linking Dubai via Turkey, Azerbaijan to Russia, and the newly founded Eurasian Economic Union — a group of markets with around 350 million people that opens up a gate of opportunities for Dubai traders to benefit from these unexplored business arenas,” he said. Buamim added that since its inception 50 years ago, Dubai Chamber has always been on the lookout for lucrative markets for the emirate’s business community, while seeking ways to build closer economic ties with their global counterparts, which happens to be the Commonwealth of Independent States businesses this time.
After the revival of the Silk Road initiative that links China to Central Asia and the GCC countries, we believe that big opportunities for the Gulf region lie in reviving a Northern Corridor linking Dubai via Turkey, Azerbaijan to Russia, and the newly founded Eurasian Economic Union — a group of markets with around 350 million people that opens up a gate of opportunities for Dubai traders to benefit from these unexplored business arenas. — Hamad Buamim
Dubai Chamber is collaborating with The Economist Intelligence Unit, the Britain-based Economist Group, in the development of the content of the forum, which will have an impressive line-up of prominent stakeholders engaging in dialogue at the highest level of implementation, advising on key strategic directives related to the CIS’s economic outlook, while managing the macroeconomic challenges, alongside thought-provoking discussions, one-on-one meetings and networking opportunities.