Dubai Maritime City Authority (DMCA) and GAC Group held discussions on the current and future aspects of maritime freight and logistics services in light of the successive achievements of Dubai which ranked in the ‘Top 10 Maritime Capitals for 2017’.

The government authority charged with regulating, co-ordinating and supervising all aspects of the emirate’s maritime sector, DMCA said the move is in line with its commitment towards establishing direct communication channels with leaders of the global maritime industry with a presence in Dubai.

It forms part of its continuous efforts to drive the growth of the local maritime cluster, particularly maritime freight which accounts for the highest share of the maritime industry in Dubai’s gross domestic product (GDP) with Dh18 billion ($4.9 billion), said a statement from the authority.

The session with UAE-based GAC Group, a global provider of shipping, logistics and marine services, is the latest in a series of strategic meetings held by the DMCA to promote constructive dialogue with its strategic partners in the private sector.

DMCA officials also showcased the successive achievements of Dubai in its quest to become one of the leading and most competitive, distinguished and comprehensive maritime and commercial hubs globally in line with the Dubai Maritime Sector Strategy (MSS), it added.

The strategy aims to develop, regulate and promote the competitive pillars of the local maritime industry to keep abreast with developments at the regional and international levels and ultimately position Dubai as a sustainable, integrated, and leading global maritime hub.

Amer Ali, DMCA’s executive director, revealed that the meeting with GAC’s officials provided a perfect platform for exploring the best possible opportunities to enhance constructive cooperation and open new channels for employing the competitive pillars of one of the most comprehensive and distinguished maritime clusters in the world.

He also emphasised the importance of establishing robust relations with stakeholders of the maritime sector from both the public and private sectors, referring to them as being long-standing partners in the journey led by Dubai in its efforts to become one of the world’s leading maritime destinations.

Ali said: “Dubai is positioned among the most prominent maritime and logistics centres in the world in terms of maritime freight and logistics services.”

“We are committed to further developing infrastructure, legislative frameworks and logistics support in line with international standards on maritime operational efficiency, safety, and navigational security,” he added.

KEY SENIOR APPOINTMENTS

Meanwhile, the GAC group announced a new round of management appointments at group and individual company level. To sharpen the group’s commercial focus, a new group sales management structure has been put in place with two dedicated group sales directors to oversee the sales strategy of GAC’s shipping, logistics and marine services in the Eastern and Western hemispheres, respectively, said a statement from the company. 

Ronnie Knowles, formerly managing director at NSGAC Abu Dhabi, has taken over as group sales director – East, responsible for the geographical regions from the Middle East to Japan. He is based at the GAC regional office in Singapore, it said. For the area from the Americas to Europe and Africa, former marketing manager – shipping services Neil Godfrey has been appointed group sales director – West, working out of GAC UK’s offices, it added.

Both group sales directors report directly to group vice president – commercial, Stuart Bowie, said a statement.

Gurumurthi Shankar, previously group sales director, has been appointed commercial director for GAC Dubai, it said.

Craig Stewart, formerly regional HR manager for the Africa region based in Cape Town, South Africa, has been appointed group HR development manager based at GAC corporate headquarters in Dubai, UAE, it added.

At company level, Göran Eriksson has taken over as managing director for NSGAC Abu Dhabi. He is replaced as general manager – shipping services with GAC Dubai by Johan Thuresson, who previously served in the same role with GAC Fujairah, it stated.