MFC News

MFC was honoured to take part in the Dubai Shipping Agents Association's (DSAA) first-ever Industry Roundtable, held on 8 July under the Legal, Advocacy & Policy Committee. Our General Manager, Laurance Langdon, APMP, joined senior leaders from across the maritime world to talk about the pressures our industry is facing today under the current regional climate, and what comes next.  
 

The session's theme said it all: "Beyond Adaptation: Navigating Current Maritime Pressures & What Comes Next." It was a closed-door, candid conversation, giving everyone in the room the space to speak openly about the challenges and opportunities shaping regional and global trade. 

Who Was in the Room 

Laurance shared the table with Capt. Swaminathan Rajagopalan, General Manager of CMA CGM UAE, and Khalid Al Ali, Vice President – Commercial at DP World GCC. The discussion was moderated by Madhu Madathil, Chairman of the DSAA Legal, Advocacy & Policy Committee, and brought together perspectives from carriers, ports, and logistics providers. 
 
 

A Logistics Point of View 

Representing MFC, Laurance brought a logistics-focused perspective to the table. He highlighted the strong response and support shown by the UAE government during recent regional challenges, and how this has helped keep trade moving. At the same time, he called for greater alignment and clarity of operations across the different ports, a theme that resonated strongly with the group. 

 

Key Takeaways from the Roundtable 

From reacting to building resilience. The industry has spent a lot of time simply reacting to disruption. The group agreed that true resilience comes not from any single company, but from the whole maritime ecosystem working together through collaboration, agility, and coordinated decision-making. 

Supporting Dubai's maritime ecosystem. Participants recognised how close coordination between industry players, service providers, and authorities has helped keep essential trade moving, and how this continues to strengthen Dubai's position as a maritime hub. 

Commercial realities and the path ahead. Equipment availability, container positioning, and changing customer expectations were all on the table. The message was clear: flexibility, proactive planning, and industry-wide cooperation are essential as we navigate what comes next. 
 

Looking Ahead 

This roundtable was the first in what will be a recurring series of executive discussions hosted by DSAA. We're glad to have been part of these early conversations and look forward to continuing to work with our partners across the industry to build a more connected, resilient, and collaborative maritime sector. 

At MFC, we remain committed to being an active voice in these industry conversations, bringing a logistics perspective to the table and working alongside our partners to navigate the road ahead. 


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