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WLP Global Summit Discussion Leaders

Meet the global leaders from business, government, and international organizations who will lead discussions at the WLP Global Summit.

H.H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum

President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
Chairman, Dubai Airports Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group
Chair of Steering Committee, World Logistics Passport

H. H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum has been at the forefront of Dubai’s remarkable economic development for over three decades. He has been spearheading the successful expansion of aviation and, more recently, formulating economic, investment and fiscal policies and strategies in support of the emirate’s overarching vision.
Embarking on his career in the aviation industry in 1985, Sheikh Ahmed was appointed as the President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) – the governing body - to oversee the activities of Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai Duty-Free, among others. In the same year, Emirates Airline – Dubai’s international carrier was launched under Sheikh Ahmed’s Chairmanship. He is now the Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, which includes dnata – one of the world’s leading providers of air services and travel services, and other aviation-related entities.
Sheikh Ahmed also chairs the steering committee of World Logistics Passport (WLP) and has helped launch WLP at Davos 2020.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem

Chairman, DP World and Ports, Customs and Freezone Corporation (PCFC)
Member of Steering Committee, World Logistics Passport

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem is one of Dubai's leading businessmen. He is the Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World – which has played a significant role in launching WLP at the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos. He is also the Chairman of the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation.
Mr. Bin Sulayem’s expertise and visionary leadership have spearheaded the rapid expansion of Dubai’s infrastructure, including ports and free zones. Consequently contributing to the stellar growth trajectory of the United Arab Emirates. He has also been instrumental in developing the infrastructure supporting Dubai’s successful tourism industry, among various other sectors.
Furthermore, Mr. Bin Sulayem is a Board Member of the Dubai Executive Council, the UAE Federal Tax Authority. He is also Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop One.

Mr. Amadou Hott

Minister in charge of Economy, Planning and International Cooperation, Senegal

Mr. H.E. Amadou Hott is the Minister in charge of the Economy, Planning, and International Cooperation of the Government of Senegal since April 2019. Before this, he was the Vice President of the African Development Bank’s Power, Energy, Green Growth, and Climate Change Complex. He possesses 20 years of diverse experience in areas such as structured finance, sovereign wealth funds management, investment banking, infrastructure, and the development of integrated energy solutions.

Mike Bhaskaran

Chief Operating Officer, Group Technology, DP World
Chief Executive Officer, World Logistics Passport

Honorable CEO of the WLP, alongside being the COO of DP World Technology, Mike Bhaskaran draws valuable experience in Blockchain, e-commerce technology, and driving innovative digital capabilities in complex supply chains. As an Engineering major, he later moved into Distribution Operations and Supply Chain at Dell Computer Corporation. Before joining the WLP and DP World, Mike was the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Staples Inc.

Mahmood Al Bastaki, General Manager, WLP

Chief Operating Officer and Chairman of the board, DT World
General Manager, World logistics Passport

Mr. Al Bastaki has played a vital role in the advancement of e-business in the Middle East. With his expert influence in e-governance solutions, he led Dubai Trade as the CEO before commencing his current responsibilities. He has also been the former Acting Director of E-Services of the Dubai E-Government where he devised the E-Government Strategy at that point.

H.E. Tatiana Clouthier

Secretary of Economy, Mexico
Member of Steering Committee, World Logistics Passport

H.E. Tatiana Clouthier is the Minister of the Economy of Mexico since January 2021. She has been a congresswoman twice. Once between 2018-2020, where she acted as deputy coordinator of the MORENA caucus, and previously from 2003-2006. Clouthier was a campaign manager for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador during the 2018 elections. Previously she has worked at the municipal and state government level in Nuevo Léon for twelve years.
As a part of her academic background, Clouthier has been a Professor in Mexico and a speaker at international institutions, such as the University of Berkeley in California & the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom. In 2010, she founded Evolución Mexicana–a non-profit that aims to promote citizen participation and accountability. She also hones the skill of authoring five books. Above that, Clouthier holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the Autonomous University of Nuevo León and a Bachelor’s in English Language from ITESM.

H.E. Camilo Pabon Almanza

Deputy Minister of Transportation, Colombia

H.E Almanza is the Deputy Minister of Transportation for Colombia, a columnist in Forbes Colombia, and an occasional lecturer at the Universidad Externado de Colombia. Previously, he served as Superintendent of Transportation, a Delegate Superintendent of Traffic and Transportation, an advisor to the National Infrastructure Agency-ANI, an advisor to the Institute of Urban Development-IDU, and an associate at the firm Archila Abogados.
He graduated as a lawyer from the Faculty of Law of the Universidad Externado de Colombia. Currently, he is studying for a master’s degree in Public Law at the Universidad de Los Andes. He is also a Specialist in Constitutional Law from the Universidad Externado de Colombia and Public Management and Administrative Institutions from the Universidad de Los Andes.

Mauro Sammarco

President, Associação Comercial de Santos (ACS)

Mr. Sammarco is the President/Chairman - Santos Trade Association (2020-2023), Managing Partner of BRAZIL P&I, correspondents of Shipowners' Protection and Indemnity clubs in Brazil, Counsellor Navy Civil Fellows Society SOAMAR – Santos.
Post graduation in mechanical engineering from the Mackenzie Engineering School, he began his career as a trainee in the company Ima do Brasil Importação e Exportação. Following that, he worked for a year (2017-2018) as a president at Clube do Leme, and attended P&I specialization courses by the North of England P&I Club and Skuld P&I. He is also a former member of the Rotary Club Jose Bonifacio where he was honored with the Paul Harris Medal in 2006.

Neville Matjie

CEO of Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal

Neville Matjie has been working as the Managing Director of Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal effective October 1, 2018. Earlier, he was a part of the Investment Promotion Agency in January 2004 and headed the Investment Promotion and Facilitation Unit.
Mr. Matjie holds a Master of Science degree in Investment Promotion and Local Economic Development from Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland.

H.E Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi

Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Minister in charge of Talent Attraction and Retention at Ministry of Economy, United Arab Emirates

H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi was appointed the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade following the new UAE Government structure in July 2020. H.E. also oversees the development of non-oil foreign trade sectors and the expansion of global partnerships, in addition to enhancing the investment climate in the country to cement its position as a major business destination at the regional and global levels.

Colin Francis

CEO and Founder of BR Food Industries

Mr. Francis is a Business Administration graduate from PUC – Sao Paulo. He taught MBA students at the Universidade Paulista (UNIP) in Sao Paulo while he also worked as the Director for the Commercial and Economic Office (ICEX) in Brazil.
For the past 15 years, Mr. Francia has been lifting the banner of Brazil for the world to see. He began promoting Brazilian products & technology 24 years ago and has been furthering the initiative ever since. In 2017, Colin began traveling the world with the sole objective to promote Brazilian coffee and understanding local experts about their unique requirements for coffee products. After trips to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, in 2021 Mr. Francis chose Dubai due to its central location between Europe and Asia to open BR Food Industries (BFI). His dream evolved to provide the world with best-in-class coffee products from around the globe. Today, BFI supplies customers in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East with top-quality products at competitive rates. It was the coffee obsession that sparked the inception of BR Food Industries (BFI).

Sudesh Chatruvedi

Manager of Projects & Energy of Gulf Agency Company

Mr. Sudesh is a multi-modal logistician with 29 years of hands-on experience in sales & marketing, customer services, operational and quality systems (ISO 14001:2015 / balanced score card / customer relationship management), regulatory compliance – operational & commercial, collaborative customer solutions development with in-house / outsourced technology / digital subject matter experts and mentoring.

He has been working with GAC Group since 1994 and has significantly contributed to the development of trade logistics in the Middle East.

Mr. Tran Thanh Hai

Deputy Director General, Foreign Trade Agency of Viet Nam, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam

From 2012 onwards, Mr. Tran Thanh Hai has been the Deputy Director-General, Agency of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam. He is also the author of a series of books on economic integration, many of which were reprinted, such as Dictionary on ASEAN, Questions and Answers on ASEAN Economic Cooperation, Questions and Answers on WTO.
Earlier, Mr. Tran Thanh Hai worked in the private sector before joining the public sector in 1996. He was involved deeply in the economic integration process of Vietnam. He is also an activist in information technology, e-commerce and logistics.
Mr. Tran Thanh Hai holds two bachelor’s degrees. He obtained the degree of Master in Public Management at the National University of Singapore in 2003. Currently, he is a strong advocate for logistics service development in Vietnam and is the main proponent of the National Action Plan on Logistics Service Development of Vietnam, which was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision 200/QĐ-TTG on 14 February 2017.

Mr. Kairat Torebayev

Vice-Minister of Trade and integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Mr. Torebayev is currently the Director of International Cooperation at the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Between July 2001 to October 2009, Mr. Torebayev held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Republic of India. Ever since he has held several prominent positions in the Ministry of Economy for the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Mr. Torebayev started his career in 1997 and worked in private structures until 2001. He started public service in July 2001 as a leading specialist in the planning Department of the Monetary and Financial Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Mr. Azamat Askaruly

General Director, Center for Trade Policy Development QazTrade

Mr. Askaruly started his career in 2009 as the chief manager of the Finance Department of Samruk-Kazyna Invest LLP.
He held the position of Director of the Department of International Relations from 2010 – 2012 and worked with government agencies and financial institutions of Samruk-Kazyna Invest LLP.
He has played many vital roles as an adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Vice Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and General Director of the joint-stock company “Center for the Development of Trade Policy “QazTrade” respectively.

Mrs. Patricia Francis

Former Assistant Secretary General and Executive Director, International Trade Center Chairperson Trade Facilitation Task Force, Governments of Jamaica; Former President Jamaica Trade and Invest

Mrs. Francis is a global leader in trade, development, and investment. He has led private, government and international organizations to engage informal sectors and the role of women and SMEs in international trade.

Mr. Erik Berglof

Chief Economist of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

Mr. Berglof sets the vision and strategy for the Economics Department and leads the planning, implementation and supervision of its work plan in support of the Bank’s mandate. He is the Bank’s inaugural Chief Economist.
Before joining AIIB in September 2020, he was Director of the Institute of Global Affairs, London School of Economics. Also, the Chief Economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 2006 to 2015, he created and co-led the Vienna Initiative, a European crisis response team credited with mitigating the impact of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. He is an expert in transition economics and institutional transformation through private sector development. Born in Sweden, Mr. Berglof holds a Ph.D. in Financial Economics and an MA in Business and Economics, both from the Stockholm School of Economics.

H.E Bakhyt Sultanov

Minister of Trade and Integration, Republic of Kazakhstan

H.E. Bakhyt Sultanov started his career in 1994 as a leading economist in the division of corporatization and licensing of the financial market securities Department in the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Since 1995, he has held numerous governmental positions including Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Mayor of Astana (now Nur-Sultan). In June 2019, he was made Minister of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Basil Pietersen

President, International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA)

Mr. Basil Pietersen has valuable expertise in the logistics industry and has managed projects in more than 40 African countries. He served as a chairperson of the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) and senior vice-president of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA). In late 2019, he was elected as the new President of FIATA.

Pranab Kumar Das

Director of Compliance and Facilitation, World Customs Organization

Mr. Pranab Kumar Das started his career in 1985 as an Assistant/Deputy Commissioner in the regional Customs of Bengaluru Area in India. Since 1992, he has held numerous positions at Customs Authorities including Commissioner of Customs at Delhi Preventive Zone, Chief Commissioner of Customs at Chennai Customs, and Special Secretary and Member of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.
In January 2019, he was made Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, Ministry of Finance. Mr. Pranab Kumar Das was then elected as a Director of the Compliance and Facilitation Directorate at World Customs Organization, and joined the Secretariat in January 2020.