Issa Baluch to deliver keynote speech at meeting of the World Bank

The Forum will take place at World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C. in March 2006. This weeklong event will review the evolution of transport policies and operations, and their implications for the World Bank's agenda and dialogue with world governments. The audience will include the World Bank transport community and guests from development institutions and professional transport associations.

Mr. Baluch has been invited to speak on a topic from his recent book, Transport Logistics: Past, Present and Predictions

"The experience of Issa Baluch, both as a logistics operator and as former FIATA President, enables him to communicate this global vision of the role of transport in development, as he does very effectively in his recent book," said Marc Juhel, Acting Sector Manager of the World Bank's Transport Unit. "World Bank staff need to hear this kind of experience, in particular as we look towards the next few years and strive to make our support to our partner countries as economically and socially effective as possible."

Mr. Baluch will address future challenges for transport logistics, such as the quest for increased safety and security and its impact on service efficiency, public/private balance in the delivery of transport and logistics services, and the need for adequate public policies to help the private sector deliver effective services.

Mr. Baluch is credited with having pioneered the thriving multi-modal sea/air combined transport freight business that operates in the United Arab Emirates. He holds a Master's degree in Business from the University of Hull (UK) and has completed numerous aviation, transport, and freight forwarding programs. He started his career as a tally clerk at Gulf Agency Company in Dubai in 1973. In the following seven years, he rose to the positions of Shipping Supervisor and Deputy Manager in the Freight Division. In 1980, he was made General Manager of the Freight Forwarding arm and continued to serve in that position until 1989, when he founded Swift Freight International. Today, Swift is among the top freight logistics providers in the United Arab Emirates, with a broad network of offices in 17 countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Mr. Baluch was President of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) from 2003 to 2005, and remains a member of the Presidency until 2007. He serves on the Board of Directors of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), the Advisory Board of Dubai Logistics City, and the Marketing Committee for the Dubai Flower and Perishables Centre.