Past event summary

AHMED BIN SULAYEM
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN & CEO

DMCC

Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading free zone in 2020 with over 18,000 member companies from 170 countries, employing over 60,000 people.

Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to market a number of value-added products and services under Mr. Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2020, DMCC has been named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record sixth consecutive year.

Mr. Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working across 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project; the much-anticipated Uptown Dubai district.

Mr. Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).

The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr. Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2016. 

OMAR KHAN
DIRECTOR - INTERNATIONAL OFFICES

DUBAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

Omar Abdulaziz Khan is Director of International Offices at Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry leading the global development and management of Dubai Chamber International Offices. He currently manages eleven offices across Eurasia, Africa and Latin America.

Prior to his current position, Omar held consecutively successful leading positions at Dubai Chamber as Membership & Documentation Services Department Director representing Dubai Chamber at the ICC World Chambers Federation on trade facilitation issues and as Customer Service Centers Director during which he helped to transform Dubai Chamber from having a customer-centric department to being customer-centric organization.

Omar has led training sessions in Dubai and the GCC to help implement the ATA Carnet system across the region and regularly participates as MC, presenter and speaker for Dubai Chamber.

Before joining Dubai Chamber, Omar worked for HSBC Middle East in the Commercial Banking Sector under the Business Banking Unit as Relationship Manager.

Omar holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology.

MANUEL DE ALMEIDA DIAS

NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

With over 30 years of experience in the Angolan coffee and agriculture industries, Manuel De Almeida Dias is the National Director of Agriculture and Livestock for Angola Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. He had a degree in Agronomy, Specialty: Vegetable Production from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Huambo, and a post-graduate degree in Agricultural Research Management, Montpellier.

BONIFÁCIO DA COSTA FRANCISCO

GENERAL DIRECTOR

NATIONAL COFFEE INSTITUTE

Currently appointed as the General Director of the National Coffee Institute (INCA), Bonifácio da Costa Francisco has years of experience in the Angolan government as an expert agronomist. He has previous experience as a Deputy Municipal Administrator and Head of the Department of Markets and Prices in Angola.

Spoken languages: Portuguese and Spanish

BRAULIO MOHAMMED SANDA MARTINS

PRESIDENT

ANGOLA - UAE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

President of Chamber of Commerce And Industry Angola-UAE; Al Azhar University (Egypt 2001- 2006); University Utanga of Angola - Computer Engineering 2008; University Lusiadas of Angola, Law school (2016) Bacharel; International Tv of Angola (TPA), IT system administrator and digital television system (11 years); Founder of Al-Furqan Angola (N.G.O), President; Board member of the Presidency of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Angola (FCCIA); Member of Angola-South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACIAAS); MBA at Portuguese Angola Business of Economic

Spoken languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English, Arabic and African

MOHAMMED AL FALASI
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE – MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA – FREE ZONE

DMCC

Mohammed Al Falasi is the Regional Representative – Middle East & Africa at DMCC (Dubai Multi-Commodities Centre), appointed to the role in September 2020.

Prior to Current position Mohammed held many senior roles at DMCC such as Manager Government Services & Senior Manager Business Relations.

Serving on DMCC’s corporate Sales & business development team, Mohammed oversees the company’s free zone operations and commercial growth plan as the world’s leading trade and enterprise hub for commodities.

Mohammed drives relations, partnership & collaborations development, and manages the SME & large companies’ profiles. Contribute generating revenue & customer satisfaction levels and creating an optimum business environment for DMCC members to grow their enterprise.

With expertise in the fields of government relations, Corporate Sales, and Operations Management, Mohammed is an integral part of the organization’s successful transformation policy.

Prior to joining DMCC in 2006, Mohammed held senior positions at Dubai Police as chief of telecommunication since 1996. Mohammed earned a Bachelor of Business Administrations & Relations from the American University - School of Business.

MARCO BELLINATO
HEAD OF COFFEE

DMCC

Marco Bellinato is Head of Coffee at DMCC and was appointed to the role in December 2018.

Marco is responsible for growing DMCC’s coffee-related business and leads the operational management and commercial teams at the DMCC Coffee Centre.

With a wealth of experience in the coffee industry, Marco plays a pivotal role in shaping the world-class services on offer through the DMCC Coffee Centre and engaging with its growing number of local, regional and international members.

Marco’s expertise in coffee roasting, quality control, production and manufacturing are critical to the expansion plans of the DMCC Coffee Centre, and its wider vision to help transform Dubai into a new global hub for coffee.

Prior to joining DMCC, Marco was based in London and worked with one of the world’s largest coffee companies. He also successfully managed his own coffee business in his native Italy.

Marco is a qualified Q-Grader and holds a Coffee Diploma from the Speciality Coffee Association (SCA). He also has an educational background in surveying.

SAMER MERHI
SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER - EVENTS

DMCC

Samer Merhi is the Senior Marketing Manager of Events at DMCC, the world’s leading Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise.

Joining DMCC in 2012, Samer is responsible for delivering the organisation’s event programme in line with corporate marketing strategy and business objectives.

Technically knowledgeable and professionally qualified, Samer forges strategic relationships with partners around the world to deliver an ever-growing DMCC calendar of events both physical and virtual.

In a career spanning 15 years, Samer has managed some of the region’s largest and high-profile live events and conferences, as well as diplomatic meetings and industry gatherings.