Cairo to Host “Next Gen Procurement Summit” with 1,000 Decision-Makers to Discuss the Role of Procurement in Addressing Supply Chain Risks
Cairo will host the “Next Gen Procurement Summit” on December 6 and 7, bringing together industry leaders to discuss the transformations taking place across the procurement sector amid rising geopolitical risks, the development of artificial intelligence applications, increasingly complex supply chains, and the growing importance of sustainability in sourcing decisions.
The conference will take place in Egypt on December 6 and 7 at Triumph Luxury Hotel in New Cairo, while the Dubai edition will be held on December 9 and 10 at The St. Regis Downtown Dubai.
The conference is organized by New Level in Egypt and its Dubai branch, with the participation of procurement and supply chain leaders, executives, suppliers, technology providers, and specialists from a number of sectors.
Hamada Mohsen, Head of the Conference Organizing Committee, said that developments in markets and supply chains over recent years have brought renewed attention to the role of procurement within organizations. He noted that procurement is no longer focused solely on securing the best price, but is increasingly connected to a broader range of decisions related to risk, sustainability, business continuity, and technology.
He added that the conference program focuses on the practical aspects of the transformations taking place in procurement, including how to address risks before they occur, leverage artificial intelligence and data, develop supplier relationships, and link procurement decisions to organizations’ key objectives.
Mohsen pointed out that changes in the business environment require procurement professionals to develop their tools and decision-making mechanisms, particularly as supply chains face rapidly changing conditions that require greater ability to anticipate developments and respond to different scenarios.
Mohsen explained that the “Next Gen Procurement Summit” program covers six main areas: procurement transformation and digital transformation; artificial intelligence and procurement intelligence; risk management and supply chain resilience; total cost of ownership and value creation; supplier collaboration and sustainable procurement; and the future procurement leader.
He said that the conference sessions will explore how to develop sourcing processes and digital operating models, as well as the use of data and artificial intelligence to support purchasing decisions, spend analysis, supplier evaluation, and forecasting market needs.
The discussions will also address supplier risks, geopolitical disruptions, and business continuity, in addition to the shift from focusing on direct savings toward measuring the value procurement contributes to organizational performance.
Part of the conference program will focus on the relationship between procurement departments and suppliers, the impact of tendering procedures, communication, and business practices on building long-term relationships, as well as the skills procurement leaders will need in the coming period.
Mohsen said the conference will open with a session titled “Proactive Resilience: How Can Procurement Anticipate Geopolitical Risks?”, which will examine how procurement departments can prepare for and respond to disruptions before they develop into crises. The session will be moderated by Ahmad Raffat, Head of Procurement and Supply Chain at A R M Holding – UAE.
Another session, titled “Reimagining Procurement: AI, Data-Driven Decisions and the Road to 2030,” will explore the use of artificial intelligence and data across procurement processes. The session will be moderated by Ziad Khan, Associate Director of Procurement and Contracts at Dubai World Trade Centre – UAE.
The program will also feature a keynote address by Sam Ashambong, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), focusing on the skills and competencies required for the next generation of procurement and supply chain professionals.
The session “Who Gives Procurement a Seat at the Decision-Making Table?” will examine the relationship between procurement departments and executive management, and how procurement can contribute to shaping strategy and supporting business objectives.
The session will be moderated by Dr. Christina, a university lecturer in supply chain and procurement at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS in Malaysia.
The conference will also discuss supplier relationships through a session titled “The Other Side of Tenders,” which will focus on the impact of procurement and tendering procedures, as well as business communication, on the relationship between the two sides. A representative from Egypt is currently being selected to moderate the session, based on their local experience with suppliers.
The conference aims to bring together more than 1,000 decision-makers from the procurement and business sectors, including procurement, supply chain, and operations professionals, as well as executives from business, finance, and marketing, along with suppliers, technology providers, and experts.
Participants will represent a number of sectors, including manufacturing, retail, logistics, telecommunications, energy, technology, government entities, and non-governmental organizations.
Hamada Mohsen stressed that the conference discussions aim to view procurement as part of the organization’s decision-making system, rather than simply a function responsible for executing purchasing activities, with a focus on linking sourcing decisions to risk, cost, business continuity, and operational outcomes.
