This year the 16th Conference Grain & Maritime Days in Odessa was held in non-standard format which was not unnoticed by state structures and by agricultural and maritime businessmen.
The General Sponsor was RISOIL, Buhler AG was exclusive sponsor while “Ukrtranslogistika 2”, “Sweet” and “Variant Agro Build” acted as the Conference sponsors.
Due to support of RISOIL, the General Sponsor, and huge enthusiasm of the company and organizers – APK Inform Agency and Interlegal, the first conference day was held in the RISOIL terminal at the Chernomorsk Sea Port. A comfortable conference hall, coffee break and lounge zones were installed at the territory of terminal, so the participants could not only enjoy information and talks but also observe and feel the port atmosphere – grain loading on board of vessel, Risoil Terminal operation, and feel all the force of the Ukrainian grain export heart.
This year total amount of participants made up 500.
Key issues for discussion during two conference days were the following:
— Development of agribusiness in the current environment of Ukraine
— Global grain market: demand & supply, development forecast in 2017/18 MY
— Development trends of the Ukrainian grain market: production, exports, logistics
— Phytosanitary control in Ukraine vs. market expansion for Ukrainian agricultural products
— Trends in the Ukrainian maritime infrastructure development. Maritime transportation of grain cargoes
Speakers were the global experts in grain market, maritime business, state representatives, IFC, World Bank Group, the Bleyzer Foundation, FAO Investment Centre, the US investment company R.J. O’Brien, S&P Global Platts (the United Kingdom), Agrite, Aquavita Internationa, Cardiff Trading, APK Inform Agency, Interlegal, Risoil Terminal and representatives of the Supreme Council of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority, Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, top managers of the largest grain trading and shipping companies.
The real surprise and significant event was solemn signing of a bilateral agreement between the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) and the Chinese company China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. on dredging works in the seaport Yuzhny. It was excellent performance of the new ASPU team work managed by Raivis Veckagans.
Optional Round Tables also awoke vivid interest: Interlegal senior lawyer Andrey Perepelitsa highlighted new GAFTA clauses and New Rules of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA); Natalya Sashkina, Razvitie agency business coach, presented for the Conference delegates the Rules for effective delegation of tasks; Interlegal partner Irina Voyevodina disclosed the vital issues regarding non-resident companies; followed by the Round Table where representatives of Charterers P&I Club, London, UK, and Andrejs Radionovs, Managing Director, Senior broker, Marine Insurance Services, Latvia, highlighted the issue of marine insurance; finally, Alexander Sagaydak, CEO, Olvia Maritime, in the vivid and interesting form, highlighted the situation concerning control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments.
Having summarized the Conference Grain & Maritime Days in Odessa 2017, first of all we should highlight high level of reporters, broad range of reports covering 4 industries: grain production and processing, trading, cargo handling at ports and terminals and shipping. High level of the participants — top management companies, high representation level of state authorities — everything shows that Grain & Maritime Days in Odessa is the leading forums not only in Ukraine but also in the whole Black Sea Region.