Past event summary

SANJEEV DUTTA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - COMMODITIES & 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 now tasked with enhancing the trade of agri and softs, precious metals and stones through Dubai.

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 previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DCGX). A distinguished speaker, Sanjeev regularly represents DMCC at international industry events and is an expert on trade, commodities and Islamic Finance.

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.

RABBI LEVI DUCHMAN
FOUNDER

EMIRATES AGENCY FOR KOSHER CERTIFICATION (EAKC)

Founder of the first Kosher certification agency that provides high-quality Kosher conformity assessment to food establishments in U.A.E. the Emirates Agency for Kosher Certification (EAKC). Rabbi Levi Duchman has accomplished much for Jewish life to flourish in his more than six years as its only resident rabbi in U.A.E.

A distinguished entrepreneur who found the first Kosher restaurant, the first Kosher database in UAE, established in 2018 and pioneered the first locally- produced kosher poultry to UAE, that is compliant to the highest standards of Kosher Dietary laws, under EAKC Supervision.

Raised in New York, Rabbi Duchman received extensive training for the rabbinate in the Rabbinical College of America and Yeshivah Lubavitch in Manchester, UK. Developing a fascination with Arabic language and cultures, he learned to speak, read and write Arabic.

In 2015, Rabbi Duchman moved to Dubai, where his open and welcoming demeanour, broad capabilities and tireless efforts –– as an educator, pastoral counsellor, religious authority and administrator he has earned the respect and admiration of both UAE residents and visitors. In his years as a public figure organizing and promoting successful events, he has cultivated close working relationships with UAE government agencies and officials.

He currently serves as the Rabbi of the Jewish Community Center and Rabbi of Beit Tefilah synagogue in Abu Dhabi, since 2020. Rabbi Levi (as his congregants affectionately refer to him) has been an important figure in expanding and integrating the network of the Jews in diaspora, by providing visionary and spiritual leadership to the Jewish Community in the region.

He is a co-founder and executive member of ARIS (the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic Countries). An inspiring leader, with over 10 years involvement in the Jewish Community life in M.E.N.A, (Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Morocco), while focusing on educational activities and social service initiatives.

Chabad Lubavitch is the world’s largest Jewish international organization with presence in over 100 countries and 5,000 cities around the world. Rabbi Levi Duchman established the UAE Chabad Lubavitch and has been its representative since 2015.

He serves as the GCC representative for the internationally acclaimed Aleph Institute and founded the Talmud Torah GCC network by providing social services, emotional, educational, family support and spiritual assistance to institutionalized Jews in GCC.

He has worked closely with world-leading Kosher organizations such as the Orthodox Union, Ok Kosher Labs, to mention but a few. Combines exceptional world-class experience and expertise to ensure Kosher Conformity is not compromised. As a Kosher implementation expert, he has provided authoritative Kosher supervision and certification at numerous events in major hotels around the world, as well as for local manufacturers. EAKC founder and Executive Director Rabbi Levi Duchman, is proud to offer world-class Kosher certification from a locally responsible organization.

RABBI MENDY CHITRIK
CHAIRMAN/CHIEF RABBI

ALLIANCE OF RABBIS IN ISLAMIC STATES/ASHKENAZIC COMMUNITY, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Rabbi Chitrik is Chief Rabbi of the Ashkenazic community in Istanbul, Turkey, where he overlooks and certifies close to 300 factories across the whole turkey.

Rabbi Chitric Kosher certifies all kosher meals for Turkish Airline, The airline with the most frequent flights to and from Tel Aviv aside from Israel’s airline ElAl.

RABBI AVRAHAM RAPOPORT
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

EMIRATES AGENCY FOR KOSHER CERTIFICATION (EAKC)

Rabbi Avraham Rapoport is the Chief Operating Officer of the Emirates Agency for Kosher Certification (EAKC).

Since 2009 Rabbi Avraham was appointed as a Rabbinical Coordinator at the OK Kosher Certification Agency, he has been responsible for all OK Kosher certified companies in India, as well as other complex manufacturers in Asia and Europe. The position includes initial visits and setting up Kosher program tailored to each plant, and on-going follow-up with the filed representatives and the clients.

In the last four years, Rabbi Avraham Rapoport is the Director of Operations of the OK IL office, responsible for all kosher aspects of the activities carried out through the OK IL office.

The role includes monitoring the activities of the Rabbinical Coordinators and filed representatives, creating and implementing uniform work procedures in accordance with the guidelines of the OK HQ.

Overall, Rabbi Avraham holds responsibility for hundreds of factories and kitchens in Israel and around the world.

In 2020, Rabbi Avraham Rapoport joined the EAKC, to contribute his experience in establishing and managing the operations of the Emirates Agency for Kosher Certification, in accordance with the instructions of the rabbis of the kashrut department, Rabbi Duchman and Rabbi Chitrik.

RABBI ELI LANDO

EXECUTIVE MANAGER

OK KOSHER HEADQUARTERS

Rabbi Lando is the Executive Manager of OK Kosher Headquarters, the largest independent kosher agency in the world, operating across six continents since 1935.

KORIN KETNER

PRIVATE LABEL DIRECTOR

SHUFERSAL

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.