Titled Breakbulk Middle East (BBME) Digital Special, the new version of the event, will be taking place digitally on February 9-10, 2021. The next in-person event is said to be scheduled for February 2-3, 2022 in Dubai with DP World, UAE Region as the Host Port.
The event’s primary goal is to provide a platform for new business opportunities up and down the industrial supply chain. The program claims to include a roadmap for industry professionals to tackle the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and move forward towards a prosperous future.
‘BBME Digital Special’ says to feature significant topics that will be discussed by industry experts who will provide insights on the roadblocks faced, business planning in 2021 and beyond.
“The breakbulk and project cargo sector represents a complex market, encompassing commodities as varied as steel and forest products, to heavy lift shipments for wind turbines and equipment for construction work and plays an essential role in the Middle East. The UAE is a front runner in this sector, occupying a predominant position as a trans-shipping center. Several factors such as the quality of the port infrastructure and the country’s strategic location that enables it to serve as a link between the East and West, have led the UAE to achieve a leading status. According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, the total output for the logistics services sector reached AED219 billion and the sector is expected to see an increase despite the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic,” emphasized Suhail Al Mazrouei, The UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.
BBME Digital Special says to feature pertinent pre-recorded sessions as well as live panels like Breakbulk Intelligence: Navigating the Projects and Business Landscape in a Post COVID World.
Ismail Abdelghafar Ismail Farag, President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport stated, “BBME is one of the key events dedicated to the project cargo sector. The event acts as a hub to inform seasoned experts and aspiring professionals about the latest trends and the challenges the industry is facing. The fact that it brings students and experts under one roof makes the event extremely important.”
Updates on regional capital projects within the oil and gas, infrastructure, renewables and other sectors, while also discussing their predictions for the project market in the future are said to be updated by the speakers. The challenges and opportunities in the Middle Eastern market and their comparison with other countries and regions around the world will also be highlighted.
Ben Blamire, Event Director, BBME noted, “Year after year, BBME has achieved greater success, producing incremental growth, industry development and economic advancement in the Middle East region. 2020 has been a challenging year for the industry as a whole, despite the difficulties, it is encouraging to see that the sixth edition of BBME has received overwhelming support from governments in the region and industry partners. Due to travel restrictions around the world, we made the decision to present this year’s event in a digital format to ensure community continuity. BBME has gained the reputation of being the GCC’s leading event dedicated to the project cargo, breakbulk and heavy lift industries and we are committed to continuing this legacy without interruption, just as our customers have continued to move cargoes under difficult circumstances.”
In line with the strategic vision of the government to safeguard the labor force of the industry, this initiative aims to provide students with the opportunity to connect with industry leaders and learn about the sector and the opportunities available.
“As the pandemic continues to evolve, we at BBME are committed to providing an environment that is secure for all attendees. Safeguarding the interests of our attendees is our top priority and we did everything in our capacity to ensure that we meet this goal. This prompted us to take the event virtual. We hope to utilize the power of technology to its full potential to ensure that our attendees witness a seamless event. Our goal is to unite the industry and offer learning opportunities despite the challenging times,” explained Leslie Meredith, Marketing Director, Breakbulk Events & Media.
