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Event Background
EVENT
Connectivity Investment Conference on Green and Efficient Ports
Connectivity Investment Conference on Green and Efficient Ports
4-5 December

2025

TIME: 4-5 December 2025, 09:00 – 18:00 (GMT+8)

LOCATION: Beijing, China

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REGISTER
SUMMARY

Co-organized by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Islamic Development Bank, CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, World Bank, International Finance Corporation, and ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative, this flagship conference will explore port sector trends, case studies, lessons learned, and cutting-edge solutions to pressing challenges in the areas of sustainability, digital transformation, operational efficiency, and financing.

Distinguishing it from the many events focused on ports, trade, and maritime transport, the conference will feature unique knowledge-sharing and engagement opportunities among its seven co-organizing multilateral development banks (MDBs) and participating developing country officials, financiers, global port experts, and private sector representatives, across a range of timely and practical topics:

  • How resilient, sustainable, digital, and efficient port development can promote broader, high-quality connectivity infrastructure growth
  • The latest technological, institutional, managerial, and financial innovations and reforms globally to support port development and upgrades to maximize their role in trade facilitation and sustainable growth
  • Deepening collaboration between International Financial Institutions (IFIs), developing country port regulators, financiers, and port operators to address priorities such as financing the preparation and implementation of new and retrofit investments for resilient, sustainable, digital, and smart ports
AUDIENCE

The conference is designed for three primary audiences:

  • Government: Officials from port authorities, port regulators, ministries of transport, statutory authorities, and environment, and industry agencies, with a focus on developing countries
  • Financiers: Staff of IFIs, developing country financiers, national infrastructure banks, corporate banks, and global climate funds
  • Private sector: Representatives from a selected number of port and terminal operators, designers, builders, technical systems specialists, logistics company staff, and global supply chain specialists
FORMAT

The conference will be in-person and highly interactive, allowing participants to engage with MDBs, peer ports, and developing country ministries and agencies, as well as global experts. Speaker presentations, case studies, and discussions will be conducted in English.

Participants will engage through roundtable exchanges, quick-answer apps, and question and answer sessions at the end of each panel discussion.

Video recordings of workshop content will be uploaded on the MCDF website. PDF files of featured presentations will be made available on MCDF’s digital platform, JIGSAW.

AGENDA
Speakers
Zhongjing Wang
Zhongjing Wang
Chief Executive Officer, MCDF
<p>Mr. Zhongjing Wang is the inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF). Before being appointed as CEO, he served as Head of the Interim Secretariat tasked with establishing the multilateral finance facility. Mr. Wang is a global leader and advocate for high quality connectivity infrastructure with a relentless focus on diversity, transparency, equality, innovation, and collaboration.</p> <p>Prior to joining the MCDF, Zhongjing served as the Director-General of the Center for Evaluation of the World Bank Loan Projects in the Chinese Ministry of Finance leading the cooperation between China and multilateral financial institutions and bilateral development partners with an annual lending portfolio of roughly $7 billion. He has served on the Board of multiple international organizations and financial mechanisms, including the Asian Development Bank, the New Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and Adaptation Fund. He was a council member of the Global Environmental Facility, Global Infrastructure Facility, and the Women Entrepreneurship Finance Initiative. Mr. Wang holds an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, a Certificate of International Tax Program from Harvard Law School and an LL.B from Peking University.</p>
Ede Ijjasz
Ede Ijjasz
Senior Advisor to the CEO, MCDF
<p>Ede Ijjasz is currently Senior Advisor to the CEO of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance, MCDF. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of several organizations and foundations, including the Global Reporting Initiative, GRI, one of the first organizations that developed ESG standards, currently used by more than 10,000 organizations in over 100 countries.</p> <p>Mr. Ijjasz had a long career at the World Bank, where he was part of the senior leadership responsible for the sustainable development, infrastructure, and climate change portfolios. He has worked in more than 90 developing and emerging economies in all regions of the world – from fragile and conflict-affected countries to high-middle-income countries. Mr. Ijjasz was responsible for about $80B of investments in and close to 800 policy reports during his World Bank career. He oversaw the implementation of the social standards of the World Bank’s ESG framework in the entire World Bank portfolio.</p> <p>Mr. Ijjasz has a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has been a lecturer at Tsinghua, Johns Hopkins, and Georgetown universities.</p>
Mohamed Mmadi Ahamada
Mohamed Mmadi Ahamada
Project Coordinator, Comoros Interisland Connectivity Project
<p>Maritime Affairs Administrator, Mr. Mohamed M’madi Ahamada, holds a postgraduate degree in Coastal and Maritime Activities from the University of Gabon, in collaboration with the University of Nantes in France and the University of Rimouski in Canada. He has worked in the port and maritime sector since 2000.&nbsp;</p> <p>From 2000 to 2021, he successively held the positions of Director of Studies at the Port of Moroni, Associate Researcher for the United Nations (UN) on the development of a maritime policy in the Comoros (Division of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, United Nations Office of Legal Affairs), Deputy Director of Maritime Transport at the Ministry of Transport in the Comoros, Commissioner in Charge of Infrastructure at the Governorate of the Union of the Comoros, Director of Maritime Affairs in the Comoros, and others. Since 2021, he has been the Coordinator of the Comoros Maritime Connectivity Project.</p>
Capt. Allan Gray
Capt. Allan Gray
Representative of Associate Members, International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH)
<p>Captain Allan Gray, now at the helm of Sentient Ports, a division of Sentient Hubs, brings a wealth of global industry experience and seasoned leadership to his role. As the former President and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority (HPA) since November 2019, Captain Gray led a dedicated team focused on driving economic prosperity for the region through the Port's core businesses: cargo, cruise, and real estate. His strategic vision in digital transformation, decarbonization, and safe, efficient port operations has been instrumental in balancing the needs of community, economics, and the environment.</p> <p>Under his stewardship, HPA initiated several groundbreaking projects and initiatives, including the visionary 50-Year Plan and the development of The PIER at the Seaport, Canada's first living lab for the transportation and supply chain sector. The HPA and its partners earned an International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) Sustainability Award in the “Digitalization” category in 2023. Moreover, the Marine Container Examination Facility in Fairview Cove at the Port of Halifax was recognized as the first Envision V3 Verified Project in Canada.</p> <p>Prior to his tenure at the Halifax Port Authority, he served as General Manager of Fremantle Ports in Australia. Captain Gray was awarded life membership in 2013 for his outstanding contributions to the Company of Master Mariners Australia.</p>
Jan Hoffmann
Jan Hoffmann
Global Lead, Maritime Transport and Ports, World Bank
<p>Jan joined the World Bank Transport Global Department in January 2025, as Global Lead Maritime Transport and Ports. Responsibilities include the Container Port Performance Index, the Port Reform Toolkit, and support to World Bank in-country port and shipping projects.</p> <p>From 2003 to 2024, Jan worked for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), since 2016 as Head of the Organization’s Trade Logistics Branch. He developed and led technical assistance programs in trade and transport facilitation, co-authored and coordinated the Review of Maritime Transport, and initiated the Maritime Country Profiles, the International Transport Costs Data Set, and the Liner Shipping Connectivity Index.</p> <p>Previously, Jan spent six years with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago de Chile, and two years with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London and Santiago. From 2014 to 2018 was president of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME). Dr Hoffmann has been to more than 140 countries and had his hair cut in 86.</p>
Kadir Basboga
Kadir Basboga
Associate Manager, Regional Integration, Islamic Development Bank
<p>Kadir Basboga is Associate Manager of Regional Integration at the Islamic Development Bank. He has 20 years of experience in international development and regional integration across Asia, MENA and Africa regions. He holds a master's degree in public administration and a Ph.D. in regional planning, both from Cornell University. His Ph.D. research focuses on the planning aspects of cross-border cooperation and regional economic integration in the European Union. He previously studied the role of small enterprises and entrepreneurship in local development. He has published papers in peer-reviewed academic journals.</p>
Admiral Ossama Saleh
Admiral Ossama Saleh
Vice Chairman, Red Sea Port Authority (Ministry of Transportation, Egypt)
<p>Admiral Ossama Saleh is a retired admiral who served in the Egyptian navy for 35 years. Since 2023, he is the Vice Chairman of the Red Sea Ports Authority.</p>
Mr. Tauqeer Ahmed
Mr. Tauqeer Ahmed
Executive Manager and Head, Engineering Centre of Excellence, Transnet National Ports Authority
<p>Mr. Tauqeer Ahmed is a Civil Engineering Professional and Executive Manager with 19 years of experience in Civil and Port Engineering, Asset Management, and Research. Certified as a Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP<sup>®</sup>), and holding a Master's in Civil Engineering Technology, he leads the Engineering Centre of Excellence at Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).</p> <p>His strategic focus areas include Hydrogen Research &amp; Planning for ports, advancing Smart Port Technologies, and optimizing Asset Management strategies to support infrastructure resilience and operational efficiency. Tauqeer regularly publishes technical insights on asset management, civil engineering innovation, and green hydrogen, contributing to national discourse on sustainable port development.</p>
Adrian M. Sammons
Adrian M. Sammons
Senior Transport Specialist, Maritime and Ports, Asian Development Bank
<p>Adrian Sammons is an international transport specialist with over 30 years of experience in maritime, ports, and logistics. He currently serves as Senior Transport Specialist (Maritime Transport &amp; Ports) at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), based at its headquarters in Manila, where he leads initiatives to advance sustainable port and maritime development across the Asia - Pacific region. Adrian brings extensive experience from both the public and private sectors, having held senior management and director level positions in government as well as in leading shipping and port companies.</p> <p>Adrian is also the founder and Director of AMSTEC Limited, a consultancy established in 2005 that provides strategic advisory services in land and maritime transport, including market analysis, demand forecasting, infrastructure evaluation, and financial modeling for governments and industry.</p> <p>Throughout his career, Adrian has held senior advisory roles with leading international organizations such as UNCTAD, UNESCAP, PRIF, the World Bank, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.</p>
Col. Andre Didace Ciseau
Col. Andre Didace Ciseau
Secretary General, Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA)
<p>Col. Andre Didace Ciseau is a seasoned professional with over 40 years’ extensive experience and various trainings on Advanced Military Safety &amp; Security, Port Management &amp; Operations, Building Construction Technology and Strategic Leadership and Management.</p> <p>He is the current Secretary General of the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA), following his appointment by the PMAESA Board of Directors in 2018. He is also the immediate former Executive Secretary for the Pan-African Association for Port Cooperation (PAPC). Before this role, Col. Ciseau served as the CEO of Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) for 14 years (2004-2018), following his secondment from Seychelles Defense Forces (SDF), where he served for 39 years (1979-2018).</p>
Atiq Ahmad
Atiq Ahmad
Lead Global Transport Specialist Islamic Development Bank
<p>Atiq is the Lead Global Transport Specialist at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) who helps guide in delivering the Bank’s key development objectives in its 57 Member Countries. Atiq has over 30 years’ professional experience and impressive success in developing policies, strategies, plans, procedures and guidelines for the economic and social infrastructure development and portfolio management. He provides expert-level advice, tactical and technical guidance, and top-level supervision to achieve effective collaborations, results-based engagements, enhanced cooperation, high-quality outputs, and intended results. He has served on many senior appointments in the public, private and development sectors. He has a keen interest in innovation, institutional reforms, and capacity development initiatives.</p>
Hwang In-Joong
Hwang In-Joong
Chief Representative, Busan Port Authority (BPA) Shanghai Office
<p>Hwang In-Joong is the Chief Representative of the Busan Port Authority (BPA) Shanghai Office, a position he has held since March 2023. He graduated from Korea Maritime University with a major in International Trade and Law and later earned his master’s degree in Harbor and Logistics.</p> <p>With more than a decade of professional experience in the global shipping industry, including key roles at Maersk Line and other major companies across China, Japan, and Korea, Mr. Hwang has developed deep expertise in port operations, logistics strategy, and international maritime affairs.</p> <p>Since joining the Busan Port Authority in 2017, he has served in the Logistics Policy Department and the New Port Branch, where he contributed to major initiatives in port development and global logistics cooperation. In his current role in Shanghai, he leads BPA’s regional outreach, partnership building, and strategic engagement with China’s shipping and port sectors.</p> <p>Mr. Hwang continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening Busan Port’s international presence and fostering closer collaboration between Korea and global maritime stakeholders.</p>
Jorge Chavez Oliden
Jorge Chavez Oliden
General Manager, National Ports Authority, Peru
<p>He is the General Manager of the National Port Authority. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with postgraduate studies and master’s degrees in Port and Intermodal Management and Planning, Public Administration, and an MBA with a specialization in Sustainable Business Management. He also holds a Postgraduate degree in International Economics.</p> <p>He has over 36 years of experience in business planning, management, and leadership, primarily in the port sector, and has also served as General Manager of the National Port Company (ENAPU). He has been a member of the Board of the National Council of Users of the International Physical Distribution System (CONUDFI) and has lectured on port planning and development at various national and international universities.</p>
Fausto Arroyo
Fausto Arroyo
Expert in Transport, Logistics, and Regional Integration, Physical Infrastructure and Digital Transformation Management CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
<p>Civil Engineer, graduated from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. He holds two master's degrees: one in territorial planning and urban development management from the Carlos III University of Madrid, and an MBA from the San Telmo Institute in Seville. He has taught university courses as a professor in charge of Engineering and Port Operations at the School of Engineering of the University of Seville.</p> <p>Permanent support and advice to CAF's 26 country offices in their relationship with national governments. Advising the teams of CAF member countries' governments in the design and development of public policies in the field of freight transport, maritime and air connectivity, social logistics, and facilitation of intra-regional and external trade. Leadership in identifying a joint project pipeline for CAF action. Definition and management of pre-investment studies and structuring of public sector projects. Environmental sustainability analysis and alignment with the SDGs.</p> <p>Leadership in the technical and sectoral analysis of credit operations for projects and programs in the freight transport, ports, airports, logistics, and trade sectors during the credit evaluation, special conditions negotiation, and administration stages. Leadership of technical field missions and due diligence studies integrated within the multidisciplinary evaluation team. Design and implementation of executing units. Direction of Lenders Advisory Services aimed at the consortium of creditors during project implementation. Proposal and measurement of development impact indicators.</p>
Miss Vansa Urairat
Miss Vansa Urairat
Director, Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Division, Bangkok Port, Port Authority of Thailand
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ORGANIZING PARTNERS

Co-organized by MCDF, the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, and ADB-PRC Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative.

RELATED

Brochure: Connectivity Investment Conference on Green and Efficient Ports

CONTACT

If you would like to learn more about the conference, please contact MCDF’s Ms. Jenny Lou Fernandez (jenny.fernandez@themcdf.org).