Supply Chain Logistics Group (SCLG) hosts Global Logistics and SCM Strategy Day

The theme of the event focused on Strategies for Managing Global Supply Chain and Logistics.

About 200 delegates belonging to senior management of SCM industry participated in this event, comprising 12 speakers, 36 panelists, six moderators and six track leaders, who discussed on different strategies of Supply Chain management.

There were speakers and delegates from Ireland, Singapore, Amsterdam, USA, UK, Malta, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India.

The high-profile conference was inaugurated by Mr Atiq Juma Nasib, Executive Director of Commercial Services Department, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry. In his inaugural speech he said,

'On behalf of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, it is my greatest pleasure to welcome you all to this Global Logistics and SCM Strategy Day and wish your high profile event a great success.'

'Continuing its relentless effort to better serve the business community in the emirate, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is proud to be endorsing this important event in cooperation with our strategic partners, the Supply Chain and Logistics Group that works under the umbrella of the Chamber and has been directly contributing in the booming business environment of the emirate.'

'The emirate of Dubai has been playing a key role as an outstanding regional business hub in the areas of re-exports, real estate, retail business, leisure, aviation, logistics, information technology, banking and trading sectors.

And the success of today's event would help promote Dubai as an international center for supply chain and logistics which can bring into play the competitive edge of the emirate in the region.'

Setting the tone for the Strategy Day, Atiq Juma Nasib, the Executive Director (Commercial Services), Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said Dubai has been playing a key role as an outstanding regional business hub in the areas of re-exports, real estate, retail business, leisure, aviation, logistics, information technology, banking and trading sectors.

And the Strategy Day helps promote Dubai as an international center for supply chain and logistics which can bring into play the competitive edge of the emirate in the region.

Echoing similar views, Hussein Hachem, Chief Executive Officer, GCC Aramex in his keynote speech said the exponential growth of the UAE and Dubai in particular had everything to do with understanding and implementing supply chain strategies, aided by technology. Aramax was the gold sponsor for the Strategy Day.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. K.M. Madrecha, founder member and consultative committee member of SCLG and Senior Manager, Quality, DP World said supply chain management promises to effectively use outsourcing as a key logistics strategy; integrate demand and supply planning; drive shareholder value; and create value and satisfaction for the end user.

Dr. Madrecha added that the winning organizations of future are those who will build and foster partnership with network of suppliers in order to design and continuously improve customer focused supply chains in a narrow time dimensions.

Andrew Saliba, Managing Director, Logic from Malta, one of the speakers at the conference spoke about Reducing Financial risks in SCM operations. He came from Malta to participate in the conference, his first time in Dubai. He has attended numerous conference and seminars around the world and delivers lectures in many universities in UK and other European countries.

The inaugural session was followed by six sessions wherein experts dwelled on strategies including:

• risk management;

• purchasing;

• transportation and logistics;

• warehousing;

• industry research and

• regional trends and SCM best practices.

The gist of the discussions was that efficiencies in the supply chain system had to be planned as 'time was the key factor' in business development.

The speakers included Dr. Khalid M. Kadfoor Al Mehairi, Chairman, Emirates Advocates; Andrew Saliba, Managing Director (Logic), Malta; Didier Jourdan, Supply Chain Director, Biersdoff; Dr. Dermot Carey, Director, MRM Ltd. Ireland; Krishna Prasad, Director, Tradex Marine; Jinendra Sancheti, Managing Director, TNT International Express (MEA); Kamel El-Ghossaini, Senior Manager, Span Group; Rob Clemo, Procurement and Logistics Manger, Technoin Prefabricated Technologies; Paul Hulley, Executive Director Consulting, RedPrairie; Geoff Wheatley, Managing Director, SSI Schaefer; Dur Andreas, Branch Manager, Xvise Logistics; and John Paul, Managing Director, Icognitive International, Singapore.

Each track was followed by a panel discussion, an inter-active session after the presentations were over.

A moderator for each track was aided by 5-6 panelists, all well-versed in their fields had a good debate over the subject.

After the invigorating sessions, SCLG organised a gala networking dinner wherein the SCLG President, Soma Sekhar, Chief Executive Officer of TrackIT announced that the 2nd Global Logistics & SCM Strategy Day would be held in May 6, 2009 on a much bigger scale.