Senior government officials and industry executives convened at the World Governments Summit this week for a high-level roundtable on the future of global logistics and trade integration.
The Global Logistics Dialogue, co-chaired by DP World under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, focused on critical challenges facing international supply chains: regulatory fragmentation, infrastructure gaps, and the need for digital transformation across trade corridors.
Among the participants, Prateek Suri, Chairman of Maser Group and MDR Investments, drew on his operational experience across Africa and the Middle East to illustrate persistent barriers in cross-border commerce.
“Companies still face significant customs delays and fragmented regulations when operating across multiple jurisdictions,” Suri said, pointing to the UAE’s role as a model for trade facilitation. “The efficiency of its ports and free zones demonstrates what’s possible when infrastructure and regulatory frameworks align.”
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Suri specifically highlighted the leadership of Zambia’s Vice President Mutale Nalumango, citing her government’s focus on infrastructure development and public-private partnerships as indicative of evolving priorities across the continent.
“What we’re seeing in Zambia reflects a broader shift toward sustainable growth and regional connectivity,” he noted.
The session also featured insights from Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi on port development and governance challenges in fragmented markets.
Discussions centered on how artificial intelligence, data platforms, and interoperable systems could address long-standing inefficiencies in global trade. Participants emphasized that digital integration requires coordinated investment between public and private sectors.
The dialogue concluded with commitments to build more resilient and environmentally responsible trade systems, though specific policy outcomes were not announced.
