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. 

SUREN VARDANYAN
VICE-PRESIDENT

MOSCOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Mr. Suren Vardanyan is Vice-president of Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mr. Vardanyan supervises foreign relations and the development of international economic activities at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mr. Suren Vardanyan is also the Chairman of the Expert board at the Moscow Fund of Support of Industry and Entrepreneurship and the Vice-Chairman of the Committee for Economic Integration and Foreign Trade Activities of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

Mr. Vardanyan has made substantial contribution to the Moscow Chamber’s activities, serving consecutively as Head of External Relations, Deputy Director for Foreign Trade, and Deputy Director of the Chamber.

Mr. Vardanyan serves Russian business and foreign trade through active participation and commitment to multiple projects and activities both nationally and internationally, sharing his insight and expertise in the Economic Integration and Foreign Trade Committee of Shanghai Cooperation Organization Countries, the Committee for International Cooperation of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs etc.

Along with his service in the Moscow Chamber, Mr. Vardanyan worked as General Director of Moscow Agency for Export and Investment Support.

Mr. Vardanyan holds two higher education degrees from Peoples' Friendship University of Russia and Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. 

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.

ALEXEI BUSEV
CHAIRMAN

RUSSIA – UAE COMMITTEE AT THE MOSCOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

As the Chairman of the Russia – UAE Committee at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce & Industry Alexei Busev is engaged in arranging large scale events dedicated to the Moscow – UAE cooperation in industry and trade and providing support to the Russian companies interested in entering the UAE market as well as to the UAE companies interested in entering the market of Russia.

Since Q1 2020 Alexei has served as Executive Director of the Russia – UAE Business Council.

Also holding the positions of the Manager of the Russian Food House in Dubai and the General Director of INCONA company, he is engaged in development of new opportunities for cooperation between the major Russian manufacturers and the UAE trading companies for the benefits of both countries.

Alexei is one of Russia’s leading experts in the Russia-UAE economic and business relations. Having worked in the UAE for past two decades, he is a regular speaker, expert and presenter at numerous business seminars, conferences and exhibitions both for the Moscow Chamber and the Russia – UAE Business Council.

Alexei holds a Degree in Political Science from the Lomonosov Moscow State University. 

LEONID KOMISSAROV
CO-FOUNDER AND GENERAL DIRECTOR

IIKO MIDDLE EAST

Mr. Leonid Komissarov has over 15 years’ experience in restaurant automation in Russia and UAE, being an owner of 8 IT companies: iiko Middle East (DMCC resident), Open Service, DocsInBox, Revvy, Service Inspector, Teamcheck, StayReal, Tawreed.

Mr. Komissarov is also a co-owner of a restaurant chain StreetMarket and founder of UAE Restaurant Community, iiko Middle East and Tawreed. Currently Mr. Komissarov manages a team of 500 people in 10 cities and 3 countries. 

VIKTOR RYKOV
INTERNATIONAL LAWYER

NEXIGN, JSC

Mr. Viktor Rykov is International lawyer in JSC “Nexign” (DMCC resident). He is renowned specialist in the fields of support of international transactions; support of foreign offices of the company; legal advice in the field of information technology and disputes with a foreign element.

Education: 2020 Queen Mary University of London (International Arbitration); 2018 University of Lepland (Comparative Law,LLM); 2015 RLA of the Ministry of Justice of Russia (Bachelors).  
 

BASSEL BITAR
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE – ASIA AND EASTERN EUROPE

DMCC

Bassel Bitar is the Regional Representative – Asia and Eastern Europe at DMCC, the world’s leading Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise.

Joining DMCC as a Team Leader in 2015, Mohammed is responsible for promoting the benefits of doing business in Dubai and setting up companies in DMCC.

Prior to joining DMCC, Bassel held senior sales positions at both Etisalat Telecom and Emirates NBD in Dubai.

Bassel earned a Bachelor of Business administration degree in Hotel Management and tourism from the National American University in 2002.