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Preliminary Conference Schedule

Conference Key Objective

The 1st GCC Transport and Logistics Conference - Vision 2020, Towards GCC Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Services," is to bring together national and international expertise in the transport sector to discuss and develop a framework for the long-term transport vision for the GCC Member States – a vision that is focused on integration of transport infrastructure development and service provisions. The conference will discuss all modes of transport including land (roads, public transport, railways, and trucking industry), maritime and civil aviation. In particular, the conference will highlight :

    1- Key achievements in the development and integration of Transport Infrastructure and         service provisions in the GCC Member States, drawing on regional and international         experiences.

    2- Challenges and opportunities in achieving integrated transport infrastructure and service         provisions.

    3- The role of private-public sector participation in the development and integration of         transport sector infrastructure development and service provisions.



Conference Sessions


The conference will include the following sessions:

Session No. 1 :
Integration of Transport Infrastructure and Services: Land, Maritime and Civil Aviation

Experiences and opportunities in the development of an efficient and effective integrated transport sector amongst GCC Member States' existing transport organizations, both Public and Private. Provision of transport services: Land, maritime, public transport, railways and civil aviation.

Session No. 2 :
Policies, Strategies and Regulations for the Transport Sector in the GCC Member States- Key Reforms

Coordination of common/complementary policies and regulations amongst the GCC Member States for better integration and trade facilitation - ones that provide opportunities and incentives for adequate services, compatible transport environment and safety standards while reducing/eliminating barriers to successful implementation.

Session No. 3 :
Transport Economics and Financing

Exploration of various financial mechanisms for achieving large scale development and sustainable operation of transport infrastructure and service provisions.

Session No. 4 :
Public - Private Partnership / Perspectives

Encouraging participation and partnership amongst the Public and Private sectors to form a coastal transport company(ies) serving the needs of the GCC Member States as well as regional needs.

Session No. 5 :
Institutional Development and Capacity Building - Barriers and Challenges to the GCC Transport Sector

Implications of the development and provisioning of an advanced, integrated transport infrastructure and transport services for both Public and Private Institutions.

Session No. 6:
GCC Transport Vision 2020:

  1- Formation of an integrated GCC company for land transport

  2- Formation of a GCC coastal transport company(ies).

  3- Developing a multimode transport company for the GCC



Conference Schedule

The conference will convene over two (2) days, 19-20 May 2008, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha- State of Qatar . The First Day, 19 May 2008 will include Sessions 1 to 3, and the Second Day, 20 May 2008, will include Sessions 4 to 6.

The afternoon sessions will be devoted to Workshops to further discuss and agree on resolutions/recommendations of the Conference. The final session on the Second Day will declare the findings of the Conference.  



May 18, 2008
3:00pm-7:00pm
Pre-Registration
Day One May 19, 2008
7:00am-9:00am
Registration
9:00am-9:45am
Opening Plenary Session
10:30am-12:15pm
CONFERENCE SESSION 1

Integration of Transport Infrastructure and Services -- Land, Maritime and Civil Aviation
  1. GCC Declaration of Common Market-2008; GCC Accession to       WTO:
           . Impact on economic, social and integration amongst GCC Member              States with  particular  focus on  transport sector.

           . Transport integration amongst GCC Member States; issues,              challenges and  opportunities.

  2. Railway Expansion in the GCC Member States:
           
           . Saudi Arabia
                 - North South Railway Project: Mineral  transport logistics and                    supporting Ras Azzur  development
                 - East-West (Land Bridge) and Western Railway
                   (Jeddah - Makka -  Maddinah)
                 - GCC Railway Development: overview, progress, and way                    forward.

           . State of Kuwait - Transport overland Organization -         
             A Case Study

           . United Arab Emirates- Dubai- Metro Rail Project-
             A Case Study

  3. GCC Port Development- Investment Opportunities:

           . Saudi Arabia
                 - Ras Azzur Port and Infrastructure  Development.

           . United Arab Emirates- Dubai:
                 - Port Development and Transport Logistics                    and Facilitations - key challenges, and  lessons  learned.

           . Sultanate of Oman:
                 - Port Development Investment Opportunity (name of new                    port developments).

           . State of Qatar

  4. Civil Aviation Sector Reform Airport Expansion and  Development:       Provisions for improved Infrastructure and Services

           . Saudi Arabia
                 - Saudi Arabian Airlines Reform - Towards private sector                    participation. Overview, challenges and way forward...

           . State of Qatar
                 - NADIA Project - planning,design,construction,  and operation                    and maintenance - A Case Study.
                 - GCC Civil Aviation Sector status and vision towards.                    Policies and regulations towards integration with efficient                    transport of people, goods and services (GCC Representative)

  5. Road Sector Development - a backbone  infrastructure:

            . Access promoting economic development and growth - A case       
              study for Yemen Rural Road Access for the poor for sustainable 
              development with integration objective with education, health and
              social and political  integration.

            . Public Transport.
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm
Prayer Break
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
CONFERENCE SESSION 2

Integration of Policies and Regulations for the Transport Sector in the GCC Member States - Key Reforms:

Panel Discussions (Conclusions and Recommendations).
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Lunch Break
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
CONFERENCE SESSION 3

Transport Economics and Financing:

Topics:
        1.Transport Economics and Financing:

                 - Options and alternatives
                 - Social and economic growth and development

        2.Transport and Social and Environmental Safeguards:

                 - Regional and International guidelines

        3.Financing of the Transport Infrastructure  Developments:

                 - Role of the Financing Institutions
                 - Selected Banks from UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
                 - Risk assessment and mitigations.

Panel Discussions (Conclusions and Recommendations).
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Workshop 1:

Developing a Framework for an Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Service Provisions- Policies, Strategies and Regulations, Challenges and Opportunities.
8:00 pm
Gala Dinner
 
Day Two May 20, 2008
9:00 am - 9:45 am
Opening Plenary Session
9:45 am - 10:30 am
Key Note speaker
10:30 am - 12:15 pm

CONFERENCE SESSION 4

Public-Private Partnership/Perspectives:

Topics:

        1.Private Sector Participation in the Finance and Development            of Transport Infrastructure and Service Provisions:

                 - Policies, Strategies, and Regulations
                 - Procurement Methods - Practices - towards                    encouraging the private sector participations
                 - Labour Laws - Comparative labour laws
                 - Barriers to PSP in Transport- World Bank.

        2.Private Sector Participation in the Finance and Development            of Transport Infrastructure and Service Provisions - 
           Private Sector Perspective:

                 - Consultants Group Representatives (Panel Presentation                    and Discussions).
                 - Contractors Group Representatives (Panel Presentation                    and Discussions).
                 - Suppliers and Providers - availability, delivery time, issues                     and challenges.
                 - Chamber of Commerce Representatives-(Panel Presentation                     and Discussions).

        3.Investments Opportunities for the Private Sector in the            Transport Sector in GCC Member States:

                 - Ports
                 - Railways
                 - Public Transport (Metros, Buses, Mass Transit Systems).
                 - Airports
                 - Roads

Panel Discussions (Conclusions and Recommendations)
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm
Prayer Break
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
CONFERENCE SESSION 5

Institutional Set Ups and Capacity Building- Barriers and Challenges to the GCC Transport Sector.

Potential Topics:

        1.Institutional Set Ups and Capacity Building:

                 - MENA Transport Strategy
                 - Transport Sector Reform - Strategy Development-
                   Status, Progress, Way Forward
                 - NGOs - Land Transport Program - Status,  Progress,                    Achievements and Lessons  Learned- Kuwait- 
                   Overland Transport Union.
                 - Needed Reforms towards increasing PPP  in Development                    of Transport Infrastructure  and Service Provisions- Case                    Studies- Civil Aviations (Saudi Case), Ports (Qatar), Roads                    (UAE), Public Transport- Taxis (Bahrain).
                 - E-Government - facilitating the development and logistics of                    the transport transactions and service provisions.

        2.Role of Women in the Development of Transport Sector:

                 - Ongoing status and level of participation  and means of                     increasing participation.
                 - Need for good educational programs (at University level).
                 - Equal employment opportunity and  incentive package.
                 - Training and capacity building.

        3.Transport Barriers and Challenges:

                 - GCC-SG Technical Committee Findings -  Status, Progress                    and Action Plan to alleviate the transport barriers.
                 - E-Government- Facilitating the development of the                    transport service provisions and  processing of transactions-                    Dubai Airport Passengers and goods handling Processes- A                    Case Study. Dubai Ports Logistics for handling transshipment                    and goods transport.

        4.Insurance Companies Role in the Provision of Transport      Services:

                 - Impact on safety and cost of transport.
                 - Status, progress and visions.

Panel Discussions (Conclusions and Recommendations)
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Lunch Invitation
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
CONFERENCE SESSION 6

GCC Transport Vision 2020:

Topics:
        1. Formation of an integrated GCC company for land transport.
        2. Formation of a GCC coastal transport company(ies).
        3. Developing a multimode transport company for the GCC.

Panel Discussions (Conclusions and Recommendations)
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Workshop 2:

Opportunities for Investment in the Transport Infrastructure. Setting the Enabling Environment
7:15 pm
Closing Session-Conference Declarations and Resolutions
 
 
 
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