Dubai acted as host city for GTR Mena Trade Finance Week 2016, organised by Global Trade Review (GTR) and held at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai on February 15-17.

Featuring as the premier trade finance gathering for the Middle East and North Africa, the conference returned for its 13th year in 2016, bringing together leading figures from across the business and financial sectors to examine the current state of the region’s trading landscape. The event enjoyed support from over 50 key market institutions, including the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Exports, the International Chamber of Commerce, ADCB, Emirates NBD, Falcon Group, HSBC, SABB and many more.

Over 600 business leaders were in attendance at the annual conference, providing extensive networking opportunities for domestic, regional and international financial institutions, global corporates, local SMEs, policy makers, lawyers and other related trade finance specialists. Keynote speakers included His Excellency Hani Al Hamli, Secretary General of the Dubai Economic Council (DEC) and Ahmed bin Sulayim, Executive Chairman of DMCC, both of whom outlined the government’s vision for further developing Dubai and the UAE’s enviable position as a leading global trade hub.

With around 80 speakers featured across the three days, GTR Mena Trade Finance Week 2016 also benefited from a ‘Compliance in supply chain finance’ training workshop, whilst the ICC Regional Mena Banking Commission also hosted its 3rd Supply Chain Technology Forum, geared around ‘Innovations in Islamic Trade Finance’.

“Another year on from last year’s event, and once again the Mena region remains at the forefront of global trade developments,” says Jeff Ando, Associate Director and Head of Conference Production at GTR. “The seismic impact of the ongoing downturn in global commodity prices has resonated particularly strongly across the GCC, whilst concerns over liquidity dominate discussions amongst banks and corporates alike. Furthermore, the lifting of sanctions and proposed return to the fold for Iran is a development of huge regional, if not global, significance.”

In addition to the unrivalled networking and knowledge building opportunities provided, the event was fully ICC Academy accredited, offering the maximum 15 Professional Development Credits (PDCs) in total.