Global Commodities Conference 2022
June 23-24, 2022
The annual international conference on commodities and commodity trading, organised by Lugano Commodity Trading Association (LCTA).
With a new format, the Global Commodities Conference will gather world-renowned special guests, international trade experts, commodity traders, banking institutions and service providers. It is a unique platform in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland for networking and deepening of issues related to this sector.
Global Commodities Conference 2022
On 23-24 June 2022, after the forced hiatus due to the pandemic, the Global Commodities Conference 2022 took place at the LAC in Lugano (Lugano Arte e Cultura). This is an international event organised by the Lugano Commodity Trading Association (LCTA) and supported by the following sponsors: Allianz, Banca Stato, Chamber of Commerce of the Canton of Ticino, Coeclerici, EY, Flame, HFW, Propeller Club – Port of Lugano, Swiss Trading and Shipping Association (STSA), Ticino Welcome and Zug Commodities Association (ZCA).
The event, which was attended by more than 250 guests, confirmed itself as one of the leading industry meetings with the participation of international trade experts, commodity traders, banking institutions and various other service providers. It is important to note that due to the pandemic, it was decided to invite above all local speakers with ties to Swiss trading hubs.
With around 250 participants over the two days and with several outstanding speakers and moderators, the event was stimulating and offered participants excellent opportunities to exchange, compare and network expertise. Given the appreciation of GCC 2022, the organisers are already thinking about the next edition.
DAY 1, JUNE 23
At the opening evening on 23 June, LCTA Vice President Roberto Grassi interviewed the well-known journalist Antonio Caprarica. With a speech entitled ‘Commodity Trading – the challenging geopolitical landscape’, the special guest stimulated the audience’s interest by referring to his diverse and enriching experiences in journalism in various parts of the world.
Antonio Caprarica interviewed by Roberto Grassi Vice President, LCTA
Antonio Caprarica, Journalist
DAY 2, JUNE 24
On 24 June, on the other hand, the day was opened by Matthew Bryza, US Ambassador, who gave his views on the current geopolitical situation with a focus on the conflict in Ukraine.
The day was then divided into three parts.
The first, entitled “Shipping and Logistic: Are we still sailing stormy waters?”; the moderator Michel’Angelo Piccinini (President, Propeller Club Port of Lugano) focused attention on the current dynamics of shipping after the difficult years of the pandemic, which have led to a limited supply of ships, an excessive increase in maritime freight rates, reduced activity of shipyards, and in general management difficulties related to covid19.
Matthew Bryza, Former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Marco Passalia, Secretary General, LCTA – Florence Schurch, Secretary General, STSA – Matteo Somaini, President, LCTA
Day 1 | Thursday, June 23, 2022
17:30 – 21:00
17.30-18.00 / Sala 1
Registration
18.00-18.20 / Sala 1
Welcome Statements
Michele Foletti
Mayor of Lugano, Switzerland
Christian Vitta
Head of Department of Economy and Finance, Canton Ticino
Matteo Somaini
President, LCTA
18.20-19.20 / Sala 1
Commodity Trading – the challenging geopolitical landscape
Antonio Caprarica, Journalist
Interviewed by Roberto Grassi, Vice President, LCTA
Born in Lecce, after graduating in Philosophy, he launched a long and award-winning international journalistic career. Author of novels and essays, political commentator. He has a past that saw him as a war correspondent for the Italian state broadcaster RAI in Afghanistan and Iraq, as a correspondent from the Middle East and later, in the times of the convulsive post-Soviet transition, for several years from Moscow. Finally, he is remembered for his years as a correspondent from London.
19.20-21.00 / Sala 3
Standing dinner
Day 2 | Friday, June 24, 2022
08:30 – 14:30
8.30-9.00 / Sala 1
Registration and welcome coffee
9.00-9.05 / Sala 1
Welcome statements
Marco Passalia, Secretary General, LCTA
9.05-9.30 / Sala 1
Conflict in Ukraine: what’s next? A different point of view
Matthew Bryza
Former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Ambassador Matthew Bryza completed a 23-year career as a U.S. diplomat in 2012, culminating as Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Earlier, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (2005-2009) and Director on the National Security Council Staff at the White House (2001-2005) for Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus.
During 1998 to 2001, Ambassador Bryza was the Deputy Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on Caspian Basin Energy Security.
Bryza served in the U.S. Missions to Russia (1995-1997) and Poland (1989-1991).
Currently, Ambassador Bryza serves on the Boards of energy, mining, and telecommunications companies operating from the Greater Caspian Region to Texas.
Simultaneously, Bryza is managing director of the Istanbul office of Ballard Partners, a major US and lobbying and public affairs firm that helps companies navigate political and legislative issues.He is also CEO of Lamor Turkey, a Finnish-Turkish joint venture that provides solutions to environmental problems.
Bryza is a Board Member of the Jamestown Foundation, a think tank headquartered in Washington, DC. He was Director of the International Center for Defence and Security in Tallinn, Estonia, during 2012-2015, where he founded the Center’s energy security and cyber security programs.
He is a frequent commentator in media outlets including CNN International, Al Jazeera, The BBC, Fox News, The Financial Times, Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Chicago Tribune, as well as numerous outlets in Turkey and the South Caucasus.
Bryza is the recipient of Estonia’s Cross of Terra Mariana (Fourth Class) and Georgia’s Order of St. George.
He received his bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University and his master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Personal presentation
Matthew Bryza was a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center and the Atlantic Council in Turkey.
He was the director of the International Center for Defence studies in Tallinn, Estonia. He resides in Istanbul, where he also works as a business consultant and board member of several private companies.
Ambassador Bryza completed a twenty-three-year career as a US diplomat. His final assignment was as US ambassador to Azerbaijan from February 2011 to January 2012. From 2005 to 2009, Ambassador Bryza served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia, with responsibility for the South Caucasus, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, and Eurasian energy. Ambassador Bryza simultaneously served as the US co-chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Minsk Group, mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and as US mediator of the Cyprus, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia conflicts.
During 2001 to 2005, Ambassador Bryza served in the White House as director for European and European Affairs on the National Security Council staff. His responsibilities included the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Eurasian energy, and political Islam in Eurasia.
Previous assignments include deputy to the special adviser to the president and secretary of state on Caspian Energy, and political officer at the US missions to Russia (1995-97) and Poland (1989-91).
9.30-10.20 / Sala 1
Shipping and Logistic: Are we still sailing stormy waters?
Harris Antoniou, Founder & Managing Director, Neptune Maritime Leasing Ltd
Gemma Carbone, Business Development Executive, Ifchor
Andrea Organista D’Amato, Principal & Chartering Manager, Armator Shipping
Moderator: Michel’Angelo Piccinini, President, Propeller Club Lugano
10.20-11.00
Coffee break
11.00-12.00 / Sala 1
Compliance and sustainability in war and resource shortage times.
Sarah Hunt, Partner, HFW
Taylor Konkin, Head of Commodity Trading Audit EY Geneva
Deia Markova, Head of Trade Commodity Finance, SGCIB
Thomas Patrick, CFO, DITH
Moderator: Pietro Poretti, Director Economic Development Divisione, City of Lugano
12.00-13.00 / Sala 1
Commodities shortage and global economy.
Marco Arrighini, Head of Southern Region, Allianz Trade Switzerland
Matija Barudzija, CEO, ENET Energy SA
Marco Galimberti, CEO, DP Trade SA
James May, Director Strategy, DITH
Moderator: Florence Schurch, Secretary General, STSA
13.00-14.30 / Sala 3
Standing lunch
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