Ahmed Bin Sulayem

Ahmed Bin Sulayem is the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DMCC and has driven its growth from a start-up of 28 member companies in 2003 to the world’s leading free zone in 2020 with over 18,000 member companies from 180 countries, employing over 60,000 people.

Tasked with enhancing commodity trade flows through Dubai, DMCC has introduced to the market a number of value-added products and services under Mr Bin Sulayem’s leadership. In 2020, DMCC has been named the ‘Global Free Zone of the Year’ by The Financial Times fDi Magazine, for a record sixth consecutive year.

Mr Bin Sulayem oversaw the exponential growth of the DMCC Free Zone master development in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), a 200-hectare business and residential community in Dubai of over 100,000 people living and working across 87 towers. Mr Bin Sulayem also oversees the development of DMCC’s latest real estate project; the much-anticipated Uptown Dubai district.

Mr Bin Sulayem currently serves as the Chairman of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) and the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX).

The Kimberley Process officially appointed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the first and only Arab country to Chair the Kimberley Process in November 2015. Shortly after, the UAE Ministry of Economy officially appointed Mr Bin Sulayem as the UAE’s Chair of the Kimberley Process for 2016.

DEEPAK L ASWANI

Deepak L Aswani is the Owner of Aswani Lachmandas Group, established in the year 1950, with a humble beginning by the founder and Late Chairman Mr. Lachmandas Aswani as the distributor for ITC products in Wayanad district, Kerala under the name Lachmandas & Sons. Later, the business got firm footholds and got established as the biggest distributor for ITC in India. Currently, the Group franchises the biggest textile brands of Raymonds and Jockey along with its ITC dealership. Deepak L Aswani with his decades of experience in business field has set an example to his network on how to be successful.

An MBA by qualification and is part of The Lachmandas Group, family run group specializes into FMCG, Textile Retailing and Distribution with partnership with several leading players including ITC, Raymond, Amway, Colour Plus, Bombay Dyeing and a couple of self-started ventures namely Priceless-The Factory Outlet and My Kingdom-The Family Lifestyle Store. Deepak is highly experienced in Retail Marketing in multiproduct environment and has been very successful in this segment.

He holds the following positions/membership:

• Chairman - Federation Of Indian Chambers Of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) , Kerala State Council
• Chairman - Retailers Association Of India (RAI), Cochin Chapter
• Chairman - Cigarette & Tobacco Dealers Association (CTDA), Kerala
• Charter Member - TiE Kerala
• Member - State Level Taxation Committee, Govt. Of Kerala
• Member - Commerce Mission, Govt. Of Kerala
• Member - State Logistics Committee, Govt. Of Kerala
• Member - Governing Board, Center For Management Development (CMD)
• Former Chairman - Kerala Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, Ernakulam
• President - CUSAT Alumni Network

Sanjeev Dutta

Sanjeev Dutta is the Executive Director of Commodities and Financial Services at DMCC. He oversees DMCC’s commodities vertical, and directs the development, implementation and regulation of the organisation’s financial products, platforms and services.

An expert on trade finance and commodity markets, Sanjeev is responsible for identifying new business opportunities for DMCC and nurturing existing commercial partnerships. He was instrumental in establishing the DMCC Tea Centre, DMCC Coffee Centre and the award-winning DMCC Tradeflow platform, and now tasked with enhancing the trade of agri and softs, precious metals and stones through Dubai.

Sanjeev is a senior member of DMCC’s executive leadership team and supports the general management, strategic direction and growth initiatives of the organisation. Sanjeev devised and implemented the organisation’s Code of Corporate Governance, and established its comprehensive risk management protocol.

Joining on its inception, Sanjeev has held a number of senior roles within DMCC and previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DCGX). A distinguished speaker, Sanjeev regularly represents DMCC at international industry events and is an expert on trade, commodities and Islamic Finance.

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Sanjeev has over two decades of multi-industry expertise in auditing, financial controls, consulting, risk management, corporate governance and general management with both PwC and KPMG.

Shri. K M Harilal

Shri K M Hiralal is the Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, posted in the Office of Joint DGFT Kochi since 2018.

He has been in DGFT for 10 years, and served in DGFT offices of Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.

He did B. Tech from Calicut University, did PG Diploma in Public Policy and Management from IIM Bangalore.

Savio Mathew

Mr. Savio Mathew has more than 25 years of experience and exposure in trade and industry, including 15 years of experience in shipping and logistics sector.

He is a post graduate in Commerce, Business Administration and Graduate of Law. Currently he is the Head of FICCI Kerala State Council for the past 9 years.

Dileep Narayanan

Dileep Narayanan is having 25 years of experience in banking industry with sound knowledge on banking products, especially bullion and corporate banking.

The last position he held was with The Bank of Nova Scotia as Associate Director.

He is currently working with Malabar Gold Private Limited as the Head - Bullion & Treasury

Mohamed Raffi K.K.

Mr. Mohamed Raffi K.K. holds the following positions/membership:

• Convener for Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Focus group of IBPC (Indian Business and Professional Council)
• Director, Indo Gulf & Middle East Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Loka Kerala Sabha Board
• Member, Burj Royale, a joint venture of Flora and Emaar Dubai

Thomas Mathai

Thomas Mathai has over three decades of experience in aviation, travel and tourism.

He is the Director at Riya Group for the past two decades responsible for developing new business verticals as well as for functional optimization of the core business.

Riya Group is an enterprise established in 1980 by Mr G M J Thampy Chairman & Managing Director at Mumbai, and is currently the largest airline aggregator as well as travel facilitator in India. Over 70 Riya offices are spread across India, UAE, Canada and USA with annual business turnover in excess of USD 2 billion, prior to the pandemic. Core business of Riya is travel facilitation for business, marine, leisure, student travellers as well as migration services and training of aspiring travel and tourism professionals.

Riya has been a consistent award winning top performer for all major airlines of the world operating to and from India.

Mr. Mathai was earlier a Manager for Saudi Arabian Airlines GSA and studied at the University of Jos, Nigeria and is certified by the International Air Transport Association for various aspects of aviation, travel and tourism.

Riaz Ahmed

Riaz Ahmed was born in a traditional business family of Cochin. After his post-graduation, he joined the family business.

He is the Director of Abad Fisheries Pvt Ltd., Chairman of Abad Builders Pvt. Ltd. and Managing Director of Abad Hotels and Resorts.

He has served as President of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chairman, Kerala Chapter of Federation of Indian Export Organisations, President of Kerala Travel Mart Society, Trustee, Cochin Port Trust. He is the General Secretary of KMEA, which is running several education institutions under its umbrella.

He is connected with several social, cultural organisations and is past council Chairperson of Lions Club International & Trustee, Cochin Orphanage Trust.

He has also been nominated as a member of the Kerala Government Tourism Advisory Board.

Bassel Bitar

Bassel Bitar is the Regional Representative – Asia and Eastern Europe at DMCC, the world’s leading Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise.

Joining DMCC as a Team Leader in 2015, Mohammed is responsible for promoting the benefits of doing business in Dubai and setting up companies in DMCC.

Prior to joining DMCC, Bassel held senior sales positions at both Etisalat Telecom and Emirates NBD in Dubai.

Bassel earned a Bachelor of Business administration degree in Hotel Management and tourism from the National American University in 2002.