Organised by magazine publisher ITP Business, the annual Supply Chain and Transport Awards (SCATA) has established itself as the ultimate celebration of the Middle East logistics industry’s achievements over the past 12 months.

The inaugural SCATA event, which took place in Dubai last year, proved a monumental success and leveraged the breadth and experience of ITP’s market leading transportation magazines – including Logistics Middle East, Air Cargo Middle East & India, Sea Freight Middle East and Aviation Business.

One year later, and the leading players from the Middle East logistics industry are preparing to converge in Dubai once again for the second annual SCATA ceremony, which is scheduled to take place at a glamorous five-star hotel in May 2008.

“The market opportunity in the Arabian Peninsula, together with the fierce competition to succeed in the lucrative supply chain and transportation sector, means the Middle East is producing some of the most impressive players in the global logistics industry,” comments Walid Akawi, CEO of ITP Publishing Group.

“The SCATA awards will make a welcome return in 2008 to recognise those regional and international companies that stand out from this exalted crowd. The nominees will once again include a combination of regional and international players that have gone above and beyond in terms of their industry contribution,” he adds. 

The SCATA 2008 ceremony will include 16 categories in total, covering the logistics, sea freight and air cargo sectors. Nominations are being invited online and will be assessed by a prestigious panel of experts, selected from within the Middle East logistics industry.

The judges will once again include Michael Proffitt (CEO of Dubai Logistics City), Issa Baluch (CEO of Swift Freight International), Captain Mansoor Ghafoor (CEO of STALCO Group and president of the National Association of Freight and Logistics), Dr Kanak Madrecha (senior manager of Dubai World and founding member of the Supply Chain & Logistics Group) and Professor Cedwyn Fernandes (chair of the College of Graduate Studies at the University of Wollongong in Dubai).

A new addition to the judging panel in 2008 is Sebastian Thomas, logistics manager of Al-Futtaim’s retail division and winner of last year’s SCATA award for Logistics Manager of the Year.

“The transportation magazines published by ITP Business are considered a leading voice for the logistics industry in the Middle East. Now, with the second annual SCATA awards, the biggest achievers from our industry will once again receive the recognition they deserve,” says Michael Proffitt, CEO of Dubai Logistics City.

“Last year, I found the level of submission to be very professional and highlighted the continuous development of the Middle East logistics industry. I look forward to joining other members of the esteemed judging panel in reviewing another set of excellent submissions, which actually make the judging process very difficult,” he concludes.