Martin Fraenkal, president, S&P Global Platts, the world's largest oil price reporting agency, and Ibrahim Al-Buainain, president & CEO, Aramco Trading Co., lead the International Selection Committee of The Aramco Trading New Silk Road CEO of the Year Awards 2020, alongside five other industry leaders from the energy trading, shipping, storage and refining sectors. The New Silk Road CEO of the Year Awards, founded in 2017 in partnership with the Port of Fujairah, strive to ensure that the worthiest nominees globally are identified for their outstanding record of accomplishment in the categories of Trading, Refining, Storage and Ports. To achieve this, a group of renowned industry leaders are invited annually to join the International Selection Committee to independently nominate and evaluate the final nominees. "Given that Fujairah has been an active trader across these oceans for 500 years, it is only fitting that the celebration of these 21st century pioneering industry leaders be hosted by this global trading hub," said Capt. Mousa Morad, managing director of the Port of Fujairah. "These CEOs are spearheading the transformation of energy trading across this ancient Silk Road route, which is literally changing the flow of world energy trading," he said. Al-Buainain and Fraenkal are joined on the 2020 International Selection Committee by Roger Chia Kim Piow, chairman & MD, Rotary Group of Companies; Thomas Waymel, president trading & shipping, Total Oil Trading SA; Mike Muller, director – oil business development & head of trading, Vitol Asia; Datuk Md. Arif Mahmood, executive vice president & CEO of Downstream, PETRONAS; and Capt. Mousa Murad. "The New Silk Road CEO of the Year Awards are an important commitment in recognizing inspirational individuals for their work along the critical trade route of the Africa-Middle East-Asia corridor and in highlighting the interconnectivity of these energy trade geographies and the leaders who are spearheading transformative actions," said Datuk Md Arif Mahmood. China's One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR) is set to be the world's largest platform for economic cooperation, trade and financing collaboration. Reaching more than 60 countries and 4.4 billion people with a combined GDP of $21 trillion, the OBOR provides the potential to redraw the global energy map through investment and development of energy infrastructure and reemergence of global trade routes. The 2020 winners will be presented their awards at a Gala Dinner event held in Fujairah, UAE on Sept. 28, 2020 on the eve of the 10th Gulf Intelligence Energy Markets Forum. — SG
