DAMMAM: The General Ports Authority and the Ministry of Transport organizes exhibition in Dammam where Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry inaugurated the first Saudi maritime forum.
The two-day conference-led event, taking place at the Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Towers, attracted up to 200 delegates.
Among the participants offering first-hand business intelligence are some of the Kingdom’s foremost stakeholders, decision makers, investors, trade specialists and economists.
Al-Seraisry announced that a new station will be opened at Dammam port after three months, which will help to double the size of the port and its capacity.
He said that many different projects were taking place at the Saudi ports.
He said significant steps were being taken to nationalize jobs at Dammam ports by preparing Saudi nationals for successful careers in marine fields at the academy.
The General Ports Authority always sends its employees and specialists as well as expertise to different training centers in Arab countries or overseas.
There are 214 piers in the Kingdom with capacities exceeding 530 million tons of goods. There are also 13 million containers.
Al-Tuwaijri said: “The whole world is passing through a period of rapid growth in international trade movements. However, efforts are being taken to introduce regulations and legislation to regulate the trade relations between the countries in order to access products and consumers anywhere in the world with reasonable prices.”
The forum will discuss 20 papers during five days and five main lectures will be part of daily programs. The forum has attracted officials from the Eastern Province and people who are specialized in the field of maritime including international and national companies.
The exhibition also includes 29 local and international companies, which are promoting different technologies and latest products in related fields.
Saudi Arabia is experiencing exponential growth in its ports and shipping sectors with a number of mega land and sea projects.