30-31 - FLYPHARMA: FlyPharma debuts in the Middle East

FlyPharma Conferences are delighted to announce the expansion of their events series and the launch of FlyPharma Middle East – the first to take place in the region – which will be held later this year at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

During this debut event, FlyPharma Middle East aims to unite a global audience of (bio)pharma logistics professionals to discuss supply chain hot topics and propose and encourage new industry collaborations through networking.

The team at FlyPharma has extended the usual two-day format to three days to allow for extended discussion of the location’s unique pharma logistics opportunities and challenges, as well as other networking events available over the course of the week.

Attendees can expect to hear from a variety of industry professionals on themes including multichannel logistics, AI technology, sustainability, supply chain solutions and more. A mix of panels, presentations and workshops will be shared during the conference.

Tailored to an audience of forward-thinking pharma and cargo decision-makers, the event will deliver a platform for dynamic and lively dialogue between speakers and delegates. This will be the ninth FlyPharma conference to take place since its inaugural event in 2015, and the first to take place in the Middle East.

FlyPharma Conferences have organised successful events in Europe, Asia and the US over the past eight years, and this branch out to the UAE is expected to be equally well-received. The conferences have been consistently praised and highly anticipated by delegates, regularly welcoming familiar faces from previous events as well as new attendees.

The upcoming event will be sponsored by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT) and Etihad Airways. Dr Omar Najim, Executive Office Director for the DoH, will chair Day 1 of the conference and deliver a keynote presentation on the future of healthcare and life sciences ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and beyond.

Delegates will also see a presentation by Ruud van der Geer, Associate Director Deliver Strategy Team – EMEA Product Handling, from MSD about the company’s digital logistics programme.

In a bid to encourage discussion on increasing pharma’s presence and capacity for innovation in the UAE, a panel of startups, small/medium pharma companies and Big Pharma will take to the stage, including Ahmed Issa, Head of Supply Chain and Logistics from Hayat Biotech.

A further panel will spark debate on how to apply lean and digital techniques in pharma logistics, following a presentation from K Kulbhushan, Global Head and Vice President – Operations Strategy and Excellence and Digital at Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, on combining the same in the pharmaceutical space.

The industry organisation Pharma.Aero will present a workshop titled ‘AI-agnostic supply chain for pharmaceuticals’, moderated by Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General. The workshop will encourage attendees to collaborate and feed back on the topic in groups.

A panel on ‘Air, Sea and Land: Multichannel Logistics’, featuring AD Ports, will discuss how and why intermodal transport of pharmaceutical cargo has become an essential strategy since COVID-19.

These and many more expert speakers will share their top tips for success at FlyPharma Middle East.

FlyPharma will expand to Abu Dhabi this year due to the UAE’s fast-growing domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Big Pharma and smaller (bio)pharma and biotech companies are increasingly looking to the region’s strategic position between Europe, Asia and Africa to establish a strong industry presence and connection.

The UAE’s efficient and innovative logistics infrastructure offers excellent cargo transport in and out of the region. The UAE’s national airline, Etihad Cargo, offers specially designed, temperature-controlled equipment, fast shipping rates of pharmaceutical products and adheres to the highest compliance guidelines.

Furthermore, Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a dynamic business destination, the strategic business location, fast-growing knowledge and technology economy means pharma companies, both big and small, will be able to benefit from some valuable insight into the UAE’s logistics programmes.

Notably, the HOPE Consortium – a complete supply chain solution, developed by Abu Dhabi to facilitate availability of the COVID-19 vaccine worldwide, demonstrates the emirate’s commitment to the global battle against the pandemic.

Combining its unique logistical capabilities and geographical proximity to around 4.5 billion people worldwide, Abu Dhabi has led one of the largest and most integrated pharma logistics efforts of its type, which has successfully delivered over 260 million vaccine doses to the global community. The emirate’s focus on pharma logistics and commitment to driving change makes Abu Dhabi the perfect location to host the upcoming FlyPharma conference.

In addition to leveraging Abu Dhabi’s strong MICE tourism infrastructure and capabilities, the organiser of FlyPharma Middle East, Samedan Ltd, has received further support from the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB) through the ‘Advantage Abu Dhabi 2.0’ programme.

As part of the DCT Abu Dhabi, ADCEB utilises this enhanced subvention scheme to empower event organisers with an array of support throughout the event planning cycle, including financial assistance and destination-driven value-ads.

Delegates and industry professionals all over the world choose to attend FlyPharma conferences to meet pharma and logistics executives and learn more about current industry challenges and opportunities.

In addition to the three days of conference sessions, FlyPharma Middle East is expected to feature an exclusive site tour of Abu Dhabi International Airport, highlighting Etihad Cargo’s dedicated temperature-controlled facilities, and two evening networking events, including a gala dinner for attendees hosted by the DoH.

The team at FlyPharma is anticipating an excellent event and looks forward to welcoming delegates to Abu Dhabi this year. Registration is now open, so sign up today to join industry colleagues and connect with some of the pharma supply chain’s brightest minds. Attendees will also receive an exclusive offer on behalf of Etihad Airways when they book their flights via the FlyPharma website: visit www.flypharmamiddleeast.com/venue to find out more.