DMCC and Dubai FDI Forum Speakers
Speakers
DUBAI FDI
Fahad Al Gergawi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Investment Development Agency (Dubai FDI), an agency of Dubai Economy – Government of Dubai. In his current role he leads a team that develops, promotes and supports the foreign direct investment (FDI) environment and projects in Dubai.
He serves as Vice President of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA). Al Gergawi is a member of Dubai Economy’s Executive Committee; chairs the Dubai Investment Week organizing committee and sits on the advisory board of MODUL University in Dubai.
AHMED BIN SULAYEM
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
DMCC
Ahmed Bin Sulayem continues to play a leading role in positioning DMCC and Dubai as a major international commodities hub for trade. Under his leadership DMCC has built and delivered the UAE’s largest and fastest-growing Free Zone; ensured the UAE has 60 percent market share of global tea re-exports, enabled mainly by the DMCC Tea Centre; helped establish Dubai as the world’s leading physical gold market and one of the world’s top 3 hubs for the diamond trade. Mr. Bin Sulayem’s extensive knowledge of the diamond trade also led to his appointment as global Kimberley Process Chair on behalf of the UAE Ministry of Economy in 2016. The UAE Chairmanship saw Mr Bin Sulayem travel to 20 countries including Latin America before concluding the successful chairmanship with a speech on the draft resolution “The Role of Diamonds in Fuelling Conflict” at the UN General Assembly in February 2017.
RAED SAFADI
CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER
DUBAI'S DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Raed Safadi is the Chief Economic Adviser at Dubai’s Department of Economic Development where he leads a team of experts entrusted with the implementation of Dubai’s Strategic Plan 2021, and promoting the diversification and sustainable growth of Dubai and its transformation into a knowledge-based economy.
Dr. Raed is a leading expert on development economics and has extensive experience advising governments on economic policy and management. He has published an extensive array of books and articles covering such areas as economic development, regional trading arrangements and the world trading system, tariffs and non-tariff barriers, special and differential treatment, trade and environment, services trade, and global value chains. His most recent publication “Inclusive Global Value Chains” focuses on making GVCs more inclusive by overcoming participation constraints for SMEs and facilitating access for low income developing countries. Dr. Raed has previously worked for the OECD, the World Bank, ESCWA and as a consultant for numerous governments, regional development banks and UN agencies.
MICHAEL LAWRENCE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
ASIA HOUSE
Michael Lawrence is the Chief Executive of Asia House, the centre of expertise on Asia. He leads the Asia House team in delivering market intelligence and thought leadership to some of the world’s biggest companies.
Asia House drives economic and political engagement between the UK and Asia by bringing together senior political figures, business leaders and decision-makers to engage in high-level discussions that direct business and policy strategies.
Michael was appointed Chief Executive of Asia House in September 2012 after a career as senior editor and executive in international media. During his 30 years in the media, Michael worked in print, television, digital and radio.
Prior to joining Asia House, Michael spent 18 years at Reuters (later Thomson Reuters), the international news and financial information organisation, where he held several senior positions over the course of his distinguished career. Michael was Global Editor of Reuters from 2006-2012, leading a team of 3,000 journalists covering news in text, video and pictures from almost 200 bureaux around the world. Previous roles included Managing Editor, Europe, Middle East and Africa, from 2000 to 2006. Michael was part of the editorial team that delivered Reuters’ much-praised coverage of the Iraq war, and he ran the region through the turbulent years that followed.
Michael joined Reuters in 1994 to launch Reuters Financial Television – a ground-breaking service for the financial markets. He was later appointed Financial Editor.
Following the acquisition of Reuters by Thomson in 2007, Michael played a central role in the integration of the two news teams. Once complete, Michael launched the Reuters Financial Commentary service which culminated in the acquisition of BreakingViews. He was also one of key architects of Thomson Reuters’ use of news and social media tools to build professional communities.
Michael began his career as a cadet journalist on the Daily Mirror newspaper in Sydney. He later moved to the Sydney Morning Herald where he worked in Sydney for several years before becoming a political correspondent in Canberra. Michael was appointed Finance Editor of news station 2GB in Sydney in 1984 where he produced and presented a daily business programme. He later became current affairs producer and presenter at the station before moving to London as European correspondent for Australia’s Macquarie network. From there Michael moved to London news radio station LBC, where he was programme director. He also spent a stint as a reporter and presenter for CNBC Europe before joining Reuters.
LUAN TIAN
DIRECTOR
INNOWAY
Luan Tian is the responsible person for several departments in Innoway (the heart of startups eco-system in China) of China including Global Incubation Platform, Big-sized Enterprises collaborations, Online and Offline Innohall, Innovation Trainings etc. He has 15 years of overseas working experiences in North America and Europe. He acted as jury for several well-known startup competitions nationwide and worldwide, and official innovation and startup mentor for Daimler, Microsoft accelerator, Hitachi, Walmart, Sino-steel and so on. He is a senior researcher in Cross-border E-commerce, helps international startup projects settle in China and traditional enterprises transform and upgrade. IT Education background in Finland.
BINSON XU
REGIONAL PRESIDENT
HIKVISION MENA
Binson Xu, president of Hikvision MENA. Under his leadership, Hikvision MENA has developed a comprehensive structured team to cover over 22 MENA countries business evolution.
SANJEEV DUTTA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMODITIES AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
DMCC
Sanjeev Dutta is the Executive Director of Commodities and Financial services at DMCC. He oversees DMCC’s commodities vertical, and directs the development, implementation and regulation of the organisation’s financial products, platforms and services.
An expert on trade finance and commodity markets, Sanjeev is responsible for identifying new business opportunities for DMCC and nurturing existing commercial partnerships. He was instrumental in establishing the DMCC Tea Centre, DMCC Coffee Centre and the award-winning DMCC Tradeflow platform, and is tasked with enhancing the trade through Dubai of agri and softs, precious metals and stones.
Sanjeev is a senior member of DMCC’s executive leadership team and supports the general management, strategic direction and growth initiatives of the organisation. Sanjeev devised and implemented the organisation’s Code of Corporate Governance, and established its comprehensive risk management protocol.
Joining on its inception, Sanjeev has held a number of senior roles within DMCC and served as the Chief Financial Officer of Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DCGX). A distinguished speaker, Sanjeev regularly represents DMCC at international industry events to discuss trade, commodities and Islamic Finance among other topics.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, Sanjeev has over two decades of multi-industry expertise in auditing, financial controls, consulting, risk management, corporate governance and general management with both PwC and KPMG.