Region’s leading trade gathering debated innovation and highlighted export growth

Dubai’s role as a global trading centre and the region’s export potential as a whole provided the primary talking points at Middle East Trade Finance Week 2014, which took place at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai on February 25-27.

With over 300 delegates attending from the business, banking and government sectors, emphasis was placed on Dubai’s role as a re-export centre for various goods and services, with significant focus on the importance of SMEs, their growth as a result of trading centres such as Jebel Ali and DMCC Free Zone and the facilities available to them. The programme welcomed an impressive line-up of speakers, including opening morning addresses from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Dubai Exports.

“With Dubai establishing itself as a major re-export centre, particularly for access into other lucrative markets, it is imperative to provide the many trading companies operating with the structures and solutions needed to allow them to reach their full potential,” says Jeff Ando, Head of Conference Production at GTR Events. “This includes increasing the availability of structured finance, providing greater understanding of the merits of trade credit insurance and developing technology platforms and processes in line with automation targets, as the authorities look to further encourage movement away from a paper-based market.”

As an event for the wider Mena region as a whole, discussions also centred on how the demand for transactions and funding in the construction and project sectors had shifted from the UAE real estate sector to energy and infrastructure-focused projects in markets such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, whilst also examining political risk developments and trade outlooks in markets such as Libya, Syria, Egypt, Morocco and Bahrain. Other topics such as the growth of Africa as an export destination, risk mitigation, sanctions and compliance were also given due consideration, utilising a range of formats including case studies, panel discussions, interviews and formal debates.

Following the conclusion of the plenary conference on Day 2, proceedings continued with the ICC Banking Commission Supply Chain Technology Forum, following on from the launch of the Regional Mena Commission last year and welcoming a number of key regional policy makers. The week concluded with the Supply Chain Masterclass, an interactive workshop that bridges the physical and financial supply chains, providing detailed insight for participating banks and corporates alike.