The Arab Federation of Shipping held its 13th General Assembly meeting on February 24, 2025, at the Hilton Green Plaza Hotel in Alexandria. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Mohamed Soliman Metwally, President of the Federation, and attended by Mr. Mohamed Mostafa Aitani, Secretary-General of the Federation, along with members of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly. Also present was a distinguished group of maritime transport industry leaders and experts, including Dr. Amr Mostafa, CEO and Managing Director of the Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport; Major General Essam Badawi, Secretary-General of the Arab Sea Ports Federation; Rear Admiral Hussein Mostafa El-Geziri, Chairman of the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety; Major General Abdelkader Darwish, Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Egyptian Group for Multipurpose Terminals “Tahya Misr”; Major General Ahmed Hawash, Chairman of the Alexandria Port Authority; Major General Abdelkader Gaballah; Dr. Alaa Mahmoud Morsi, Dean of the Port Training Institute at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport in Alexandria; Dr. Ahmed Tamer, General Director of the General Directorate of Land and Maritime Transport and CEO of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport; as well as a delegation of guests from the Republic of the Sudan.
The meeting opened with a welcoming speech by the Federation President, who acknowledged the collective efforts made in the past period and highlighted key developments shaping the maritime transport industry in the Arab region. Discussions revolved around crucial industry advancements, and several presentations were delivered to shed light on significant topics. Mr. Mohamed Mostafa Aitani, Secretary-General of the Federation, presented insights on the Green Economy and its impact on the maritime sector. Dr. Sara El-Gazzar, Dean of the College of Transport and Logistics at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Alexandria, discussed the future of maritime transport in the Arab world. Mr. Hamdy Rakha, Business Development Manager for the Middle East and Africa, provided an overview of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and its collaboration opportunities with member companies of the Federation. Additionally, Mr. Omar Khalifa, General Manager, presented updates on the projects and strategic plans of Sudan Shipping Lines Company.
The meeting concluded with the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), one between the Federation and the Islamic P&I Club and another with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). In his closing remarks, the Federation President expressed his gratitude to all attendees for their valuable contributions and active participation, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration to drive progress in the maritime industry.