This high-level workshop brings together local, regional and international experts to engage on how UAE is advancing as a leading hub for digital trade.
Date and Time
20 Feb 2025 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Venue
Dubai Chambers
Organized By
Dubai Chambers in collaboration with ICC DSI, ICC UAE and Fichte & Co Legal Consultancy LLC
Event Type
Workshop
About the Workshop
Trade Transformation & Digitalisation require the accelerated evolution of law, practice and technology. This high-level workshop brings together local, regional and international experts to engage on how UAE is advancing as a leading hub for digital trade.
Objectives
The participants will gain better understanding of:
- The role of the ICC Digital Standards Initiative (ICC DSI) in facilitation digital trade & finance
- The Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) and its importance
- The impact of the enactment of the Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA) in the UK
- The legal standing of electronic trade documents in the UAE
- Best Practices in Digital Identification of Trade Counterparties
- Litigation enforcement, security of commercial transactions, due diligence, and compliance
- Showcase of Members practical achievements in Digital Trade & Finance
Agenda
08:30 am - 08:45 am
Registration and Networking
08:45 am - 09:00 am
Opening Remarks
Vincent O'Brien, Director ICC UAE
09:00 am - 09:10 am
Welcome Address
09:10 am - 09:30 am
The Legal Ecosystems for Digital Trade & Finance in the UAE and the Region
Alessandro Tricoli, Partner, Fichte & Co Legal
09:30 am - 09:50 am
The ICC Digital Standard Initiative and its role in facilitating digital trade
Pamela Mar, Managing Director, ICC Digital Standards Initiative (DSI)
09:50 am - 10:10 am
Digital Identify, the essential ingredient or the missing link
Stephan Wolf, Vice-Chair, Industry Advisory Board (IAB), ICC DSI
10:10 am - 10:30 am
Tea/Coffee and Networking
10:30 am - 10:50 am
The Impact of the UK enacted Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA)
Robert Parson Partner, Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP
10:50 am - 11:30 am
The Digital Dialogue Panel
Moderator: Alessandro Tricoli, Partner, Fichte & Co Legal
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Trade Transformation Challenge - show us what you've got!
Four ICC Members will demonstrate the practical problem-solving capability of their technology competing in the Trade Transformation Challenge, Review and Questions from Panel of Judges
12:30 pm - 01:30 pm
Lunch Break
01:30 pm - 02:30 pm
Continuation: Trade Transformation Challenge - show us what you've got!
02:30 pm - 03:00 pm
Announcement of Winner of the Trade Transformation Challenge
03:00 pm
Closing Remarks
Participation Fees
(Excluding VAT)
- Dubai Chambers' Member: AED 600/-
- Non-member: AED 2400/-
* 10% discount available for groups of three or more.
A selection of our partners
Speakers
Vincent O'Brien
Director, International Chamber of Commerce- United Arab Emirates
Vincent O’Brien is Director of the International Chamber of Commerce, United Arab Emirates (ICC UAE). He has been actively involved in facilitating international trade & finance for more than a quarter of a century and has delivered technical assistance for trade finance in more than 100 countries. Vincent has worked extensively in trade facilitation with the major Multilateral Development Banks and his recognized specialty is trade related dispute resolution where he often acts as Expert Witness in Trade Disputes and Legal Cases.
Pamela Mar
Managing Director, ICC Digital Standards Initiative (DSI)
Pamela Mar is the Managing Director of the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), based in Singapore. The DSI is a public private partnership backed by the ICC, Asian Development Bank, World Trade Organization, World Customs Organization and the Singapore government, that accelerates the digitalization of global trade in three areas: convergence on digital standards, legal and policy reform, and digital readiness across the public and private sectors.
Robert Parson
Partner, Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP
Robert advises regularly on structured trade and inventory finance and the use of financial instruments such as letters of credit, bills of exchange, promissory notes and other secure payment arrangements in international trade. Robert has an established reputation in the increasingly important field of digital trade, working on the establishment of digital platforms and the use and enforceability of electronic trade documents and payment instruments. He is a member of the legal committee of the ICC Banking Commission and worked closely with ICC UK in the advancement of the case for UK Electronic Trade Documents Act (the Act) which came into force on 20 September 2023.
Alessandro Tricoli
Partner, Fichte & Co Legal
Alessandro Tricoli is Partner and Head of Shipping Department (non- contentious) of Fichte & Co Legal. He specializes in ship finance, ship sale & purchase, construction and conversion and has acted for owners, yards and banks alike in contentious and non-contentious matters relating to ship building and ship finance contracts. His interests also lie in port development, where he has advised port authorities and operators regarding the development and restructuring of their operations.
Bertrand Chen
Chief Executive Officer - Global Shipping Business Network
Bertrand Chen is the CEO of Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), a neutral, not-for-profit consortium enabling paperless, accessible and sustainable global trade. GSBN enables a range of innovative solutions, notably a leading electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) solution. GSBN boasts a diverse membership base, including major shipping lines, terminal operators, banks, insurers and solution providers. Bertrand started his career on Wall Street as a trader in credit and equity derivatives for Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch in New York City and in Hong Kong.
Stephan Wolf
Vice-Chair, Industry Advisory Board (IAB), ICC Digital Standards Initiative (ICC DSI)
Stephan Wolf was appointed in March 2024 by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to the Board of the Industry Advisory Board (IAB) for the Digital Standards Initiative, a global platform for the alignment, adoption, and engagement with digital trade standards. From 2014 to June 2024, Mr. Wolf was the CEO of the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF). Between January 2017 and June 2020, he served as Co-Chair of the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 68 FinTech Technical Advisory Group (ISO TC 68 FinTech TAG). In January 2017, he was recognized by One World Identity as one of the Top 100 Leaders in Identity.
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