Abu Dhabi, UAE –23 November, 2016: Maqta Gateway, a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports will host the annual International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA) Conference for the first time in the GCC region. The conference will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 7th this year at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. The 2016 IPCSA Conference will welcome high profile dignitaries and serve as a platform that brings industry leaders and key influencers together to share knowledge and best practices.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, commented: “We are delighted to have been selected the host city of this year’s IPCSA Conference as we bring it for the first time to the GCC region. Hosting the IPCSA Conference is a reflection of our commitment at Abu Dhabi Ports in providing customers and stakeholders with innovative digital solutions that streamline operations and facilitate trade, in line with Abu Dhabi Vison 2030.”

Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri, General Manager of Maqta Gateway, said: “Initiated by Abu Dhabi Ports in 2014, Maqta Gateway was the first member of IPCSA in the Middle East region. It has developed and operated the first innovative port community system in the UAE that provides a single online window for Abu Dhabi trade customers. We are making steady strides towards our official inauguration in 2017 following the successful completion of the first two phases which featured the introduction of the Container Shipping Management System at Khalifa Port in 2015 and the Vessel Management System in all commercial ports in Abu Dhabi this year. The IPCSA 2016 Conference will help establish mutually beneficial relationships among regional and international communities and we look forward to welcoming our guests to Abu Dhabi.”

Alan Long, Chairman of IPSCA added: “IPCSA is delighted that Maqta Gateway is hosting the first IPCSA conference in the GCC. Maqta Gateway has proved its commitment to the digital transformation of the industry and we are confident that participants at this year’s event will benefit greatly from the discussions that are going to take place in Abu Dhabi.” Held under the theme “Digitalising Trade”, the Conference will discuss the role of a single window in trade facilitation and trade transformation. Additionally, it will focus on how administrations in different countries can reduce the burden of trade across borders, enhance security and standardise processes and information flow.

The event will address three key topics critical to the international port community and they are: “The strategic direction for the global supply chain”, “Facilitating global trade”, and “Digitalising trade”.

Speakers at the event represent esteemed local and international organisations such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Federal Customs Authority, Etihad Rail DB, Hamburg Port Authority, and Portbase Rotterdam.

About Abu Dhabi Ports

Established in 2006, Abu Dhabi Ports celebrates ten years of innovation, growth and partnership embarking on another decade of facilitating economic diversification through enabling maritime and trade development. This is done by delivering high quality maritime services, supporting partners’ infrastructure projects and setting up new companies and joint ventures in the ports and logistics sectors.

The flagship state-of-the-art Khalifa Port and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) play a pivotal role in the diversification of the economy. Khalifa Port was inaugurated on 12/12/12 by the UAE President H.H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The port’s semi-automated container terminal handles all of Abu Dhabi’s container traffic, after its transfer from Zayed Port, the historic port in the city centre.

Khalifa Port’s current capacity is 2.5 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units/containers) and 12 million tonnes of general cargo. Further phases of development will occur as market demand requires. When all phases are complete, Khalifa Port will be able to handle 15 million TEUs and 35 million tonnes of general cargo per year.

Abu Dhabi Ports manages ten commercials, logistics, community and leisure ports, and Khalifa Industrial Zone that is serving a range of logistics and manufacturing investors. Abu Dhabi Ports is boosting Abu Dhabi’s economic growth and diversification, in line with the Abu Dhabi’s Economic Vision.

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About International Port Community Systems Association

IPCSA was originally founded as the European Port Community Systems Association in 2011, by six European-based PCS operators. It was relaunched in 2014 as an international association, reflecting its growing membership outside Europe. Today, IPCSA’s members operate in more than 100 ports which handle in excess of 175 million TEU and 5 billion tonnes of cargo a year, exchanging at least 10 billion messages annually based on TEUs alone – statistics that show the growing importance and influence of Port Community Systems in supporting effective trade facilitation.

IPCSA’s membership provides representation in each of the five UN Regional Commission regions. This geographical reach enables it to address the needs of members on a regional as well as international basis. IPCSA also has consultative status at the International Maritime Organization, providing an important platform for representing the needs of its members at the highest level.

Membership of the International Port Community Systems Association is open to Port Community System operators and port authorities. For further information, please contact Richard Morton, Secretary General of IPCSA.