Two Of The Middle East’s Top Energy Executives Win The 2022 Aramco Trading New Silk Road CEO Of The Year Awards

Two of the Middle East’s leading energy industry executives tasked with securing a seat for national oil companies at the international top table for trading energy markets, have won the prestigious New Silk Road CEO of the Year Awards 2022 – Mr. Khaled Salmeen, Executive Director – Downstream Industry, Marketing & Trading Directorate, ADNOC, was recognized in the category of Trading, and Dr. Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Senior Vice President – Downstream, Saudi Aramco, won the accolade in the category of Refining.

The 5^th anniversary New Silk Road CEO of the Year Awards, founded in 2017 in partnership with the Government of Fujairah, were conceived to identify and celebrate the pioneering industry leaders who are spearheading the transformation of the physical energy markets – “Trading”, “Refining”, “Storage”, and “Ports & Shipping” – across this ancient trading routes connecting Asia with the Middle East & Africa, which is literally changing the direction of international energy flows.

It’s precisely the emergence of this critical energy corridor over the last decade that the New Silk Road Awards are designed to celebrate – recognizing some of the key architects that have made it possible. This was never more pronounced than in this last year of the global Covid pandemic, where the international energy markets threatened to freeze-up under the pressure of one unprecedented challenge after another. Much of the economic renewal on these ancient trading routes East-of-the-Suez Canal is being built on a foundation of physical energy supply and demand, with more than 60% of oil and gas exported from the Middle East now destined for Asian markets.

“In our industry, leadership matters. We operate on a global scale. The decisions we make can affect the lives of literally billions of people,” said Mohammed Al-Mulhim, Chairman of the Awards International Selection Committee. “The 2022 Award Winners have consistently got it right on the big decisions. Together, they are helping transform the global energy system – channeling jobs and prosperity on the rebirth of these ancient trade routes linking China, Africa and the Middle East.”

Mr. Baoming Shi, Former General Manager, Fujairah Oil Terminal FZC, which includes Sinopec amongst its shareholders, and Michiel Gilsing, Member Executive Board & CFO, Vopak, shared the accolade as CEO of the Year for Storage, while Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, was recognized in the Ports & Shipping category.

The rise of the Arab world, China and India are part of the same narrative of growth in the emerging markets, where once historic trading partners via the old Silk Road are reintegrating their economies. It isn’t a coincidence that Arab traders have returned to Asia at the same time that China is leading an Asian wave of nations that are fast regaining their share of the global economy. Much of this economic reintegration from the Arabian Peninsula to the massive populations of Asia is built on a foundation of physical energy: Trading – Refining – Storage – Ports & Shipping.

The annual New Silk Road CEO of the Year Awards are curated each year by an International Selection Committee, that this year included Mr. Mike Muller, Head of Vitol Asia; Mr. Thomas Waymel, President Trading & Shipping, Total Oil Trading SA, and Capt. Mousa Murad, Managing Director, Port of Fujairah, Mr. Ron Nijst, former CEO of VTTI, and Ms. Nicke Widyawati, President Director & CEO, PT Pertamina.

The Awards are produced by Gulf Intelligence Under the Patronage of H.H. Hamad bin Mohammad Al-Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah. The Class of 2022 winners were presented with their Awards during the 10^th edition of the Fujairah Energy Markets Forum on Oct. 4th, 2022.