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15th Apr 09
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World Grains Trade Summit Singapore, 17-18 February 2009
CMT’s World Grains Trade Summit was held on 17-18 Feb 2009 in Singapore’s Goodwood Park Hotel to mark the growing prominence of Asia in the world grains market. Attracting over 200 top decision makers shaping the world’s grains & oilseeds industries, World Grains Trade Summit was well received in the community.
Conference participants were paying close attention to the industry’s top executives, who shared frank views on key issues dominating the markets including the Credit crisis, lowered freight rates and low prices.
Providing the keynote address was Noble Group’s Global Head of Grains, Diego Barbero, who spoke on the future of Asia on the world grains market. He discussed the impact of the credit crunch, funds shortage and the global production of major grains crops including wheat, soybean and corn.
Sharing his view on the fall out of the credit crunch on the grains industry Barbero said, “Production of crops is being constrained by the lack of credit financing.” Barbero also noted “you cannot expect farmers to invest heavily when there is uncertainty about demand.”
However, Mr. Barbero acknowledged the pivotal role Asia will continue to play in the world grains market.
Last year’s fall in commodity prices was the biggest commodity price decline on record, but attendees at World Grains Trade Summit remained optimistic about prospects for growth, especially in Asia, as the region remains the world’s largest consumer of grains.
Delegates came from over 30 countries to hear from the industry’s top players including Noble Group, Toepfer, Bunge, Agrocorp, Olam, SGS, Monsanto, LMC International, Standard Chartered Bank and the newly reformed AWB Inc to name a few.
World Grains Trade Summit examined the fundamental factors reshaping the grains markets, and took a close look at where investment and innovation is succeeding and where critical gaps have emerged, and participants at the World Grains Trade summit found the event to be useful, relevant and enjoyable.
Calling a grains trading event in Singapore “long overdue” participants took maximum advantage of the 10 hours of networking opportunities, having their own meetings to form business connections and network with top executives from the leading and most influential grains businesses, research institutes and government agencies.
In fact, testimonials like “A good platform to enhance networking & be update with issues and prospects in the region”, “Interesting conference with a wide range of topics” or even “Great conference, I’ll be back next year” were echoed by almost all who attended this pioneering event.
The World Grains Trade Summit also received the support and sponsorship from some of the industry’s most influential organizations including SGS, Monsanto, Glencore Grain, Intertek Agri Services, Concordia Agri-trading & Nibulon Ltd.
World Grains Trade Summit organised by CMT-Centre for Management Technology is set to become Asia’s annual must-attend Grains industry event.
Watch this space for more updates on World Grains Trade Summit, and our special announcements for 2010’s 2nd World Grains Trade Summit.
>>CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WORLD GRAINS TRADE GALLERY.<<
