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Largest Global Maritime Congress Kicks Off in Dammam

The President of MAWANI, Omar Hariri, and CEO of Bahri Ahmed al-Subaey, at the inauguration of the maritime congress (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The President of MAWANI, Omar Hariri, and CEO of Bahri Ahmed al-Subaey, at the inauguration of the maritime congress (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Largest Global Maritime Congress Kicks Off in Dammam

The President of MAWANI, Omar Hariri, and CEO of Bahri Ahmed al-Subaey, at the inauguration of the maritime congress (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The President of MAWANI, Omar Hariri, and CEO of Bahri Ahmed al-Subaey, at the inauguration of the maritime congress (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The fourth edition of the Saudi Maritime Congress, the Kingdom’s largest and most important global maritime event, has successfully opened its doors at the Dhahran Expo in Dammam.

Several senior officials and representatives from leading international tech companies attended the event on Wednesday.

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, the President of MAWANI, Omar Hariri, and CEO of Bahri Ahmed al-Subaey officially inaugurated the opening ceremony with keynote addresses at the two-day event.

The event is supported by founding strategic partners Bahri & Seatrade Maritime, with prominent partners MAWANI & Transport General Authority (TGA) and strategic partners Saudi Aramco and IMI.

Deputy for Maritime Transport at the Transport General Authority Abdulrahman al-Thonayan stated that the Saudi Maritime Conference is being held when the maritime transport industry is experiencing significant changes and developments.

Al-Thonayan underscored the importance of keeping pace with these changes and enhancing cooperation and collaboration among all countries worldwide to achieve common goals in this critical industry.

The conference will also address pressing issues and tackle the challenges facing the maritime sector in Saudi Arabia, he said.

- Showcase of Products and Services

Al-Thonayan highlighted that the conference serves as a crucial platform, bringing together key regional technological companies in the maritime sector to showcase their latest products and services to conference attendees and visitors, thus adding value to the event and its accompanying exhibition.

Also at the conference, the Group Director of organizer Seatrade Maritime, Chris Morley, announced that day one has been what the company hoped for and more.

“We were anticipating a great day based on the pre-registration figures, which far exceeded previous editions. The event has been really exciting and reflects the eagerness of the global industry to be part of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing its maritime trade and doing business on an international scale,” Morley indicated.

Morley noted that Saudi Arabia scored the highest regional progress in the Maritime Connectivity Index in 2021 and ranked 20th globally in the maritime transport industry.

- Discussion Sessions

Day one saw broad participation in discussion sessions with a selection of international experts addressing crucial topics for the maritime sector.

Bahri and MAWANI signed two strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) deals on the show floor.

The Saudi maritime sector now has 53,000 ships operating within its borders, is registered in 150+ countries, and carries 11 billion tons of cargo annually, making Riyadh a robust and promising regional and global trade partner.

Day two of the conference agenda includes several activities and events, starting with a session on “Energy Transition and the Strategy for Sustainability in the KSA and GCC – Outlook for Investment and Business in the Region.”

Saudi Arabia focuses more on developing a circular carbon economy (CCE), which essentially seeks to reduce, reuse, recycle, and remove carbon to keep its hydrocarbon industry relevant.

The session explores developments and opportunities for key partners in this field.

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Russia's Central Bank Holds Off on Interest Rate Hike

People skate at an ice rink installed at the Red Square decorated for the New Year and Christmas festivities, with the St. Basil's Cathedral, left, and the Kremlin, right, in the background in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
People skate at an ice rink installed at the Red Square decorated for the New Year and Christmas festivities, with the St. Basil's Cathedral, left, and the Kremlin, right, in the background in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
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Russia's Central Bank Holds Off on Interest Rate Hike

People skate at an ice rink installed at the Red Square decorated for the New Year and Christmas festivities, with the St. Basil's Cathedral, left, and the Kremlin, right, in the background in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
People skate at an ice rink installed at the Red Square decorated for the New Year and Christmas festivities, with the St. Basil's Cathedral, left, and the Kremlin, right, in the background in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Russia's central bank has left its benchmark interest rate at 21%, holding off on further increases as it struggles to snuff out inflation fueled by the government's spending on the war against Ukraine.
The decision comes amid criticism from influential business figures, including tycoons close to the Kremlin, that high rates are putting the brakes on business activity and the economy.
According to The Associated Press, the central bank said in a statement that credit conditions had tightened “more than envisaged” by the October rate hike that brought the benchmark to its current record level.
The bank said it would assess the need for any future increases at its next meeting and that inflation was expected to fall to an annual 4% next year from its current 9.5%
Factories are running three shifts making everything from vehicles to clothing for the military, while a labor shortage is driving up wages and fat enlistment bonuses are putting more rubles in people's bank accounts to spend. All that is driving up prices.
On top of that, the weakening Russian ruble raises the prices of imported goods like cars and consumer electronics from China, which has become Russia's biggest trade partner since Western sanctions disrupted economic relations with Europe and the US.
High rates can dampen inflation but also make it more expensive for businesses to get the credit they need to operate and invest.
Critics of the central bank rates and its Governor Elvira Nabiullina have included Sergei Chemezov, the head of state-controlled defense and technology conglomerate Rostec, and steel magnate Alexei Mordashov.
Russian President Vladimir Putin opened his annual news conference on Thursday by saying the economy is on track to grow by nearly 4% this year and that while inflation is “an alarming sign," wages have risen at the same rate and that "on the whole, this situation is stable and secure.”
He acknowledged there had been criticism of the central bank, saying that “some experts believe that the Central Bank could have been more effective and could have started using certain instruments earlier.”
Nabiullina said in November that while the economy is growing, “the rise in prices for the vast majority of goods and services shows that demand is outrunning the expansion of economic capacity and the economy’s potential.”
Russia's military spending is enabled by oil exports, which have shifted from Europe to new customers in India and China who aren't observing sanctions such as a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian oil sales.