Rohan Masakorala to speak at first UNCTAD Global Supply Chain Forum

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Government of Barbados will organise the first Global Supply Chain Forum in Barbados from 21 to 24 May 2024.

The high-level forum  responds to the need to tackle ongoing and future supply chain challenges, covering issues such as financing, sustainable and resilient transport and logistics, trade facilitation, transport connectivity, digitalisation, food security, transport costs, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and helping developing countries to prepare for the energy transition in international transport. The Global Supply Chain Forum in Barbados promises to be a significant milestone in shaping the future of global trade and logistics.

The event is the result of the call by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, during the 15th UNCTAD Ministerial Conference (UNCTAD15), as well as the 2022 Bridgetown Covenant. The forum will bring 120 speakers from key institutions from around the world with over 800 delegates taking part and will be an in-person four-day event, with selected sessions streamed on-online.

Shippers’ Academy International Founder and Shippers’ Academy Colombo CEO Rohan Masakorala will be speaking at the Parallel Session C4 on the topic: What would the world be like without shipping? The session is organised by the World Maritime University (Prof. George Theocharidis and moderated by UNCTAD Trade Logistics Branch – Division on Technology and Logistics Chief Jan Hoffman. 

C4 will discuss the following:

Many countries take it for granted that shipping will do its work against a remuneration. But how significant is that work? During the pandemic and the Ever-Given incident, the repercussions from the stoppage of shipping were felt to a certain extent and also now with the red sea crisis. But what if transportation came to a complete stop for certain time periods? Would the impact be limited to what we know, or would the magnitude be similar to an avalanche? It is submitted that shipping serves global supply chains and the stability of all markets, ensuring peace for societies and prosperity for citizens.