• Between November 28 and 30, Brazil’s main port will host the XXX Latin American Congress of Ports (AAPA Latino).

• Both authorities and hosts anticipate that it will be one of the major milestones in the history of the event, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Between November 28 and 30, the Port of Santos will become the epicenter of the maritime, shipping, logistics, and port industry of the entire continent. During these three days, the main port of Brazil and one of the regional giants of the industry will receive hundreds of participants who will attend the XXX Latin American Congress of Ports of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA).

The annual meeting par excellence of the continent’s port leaders will celebrate its third decade with a high-level event in the city that is a venue for the continent’s leading port complex. More than 600 representatives of port authorities, directors, managers, executives, port suppliers and consultants, terminals, logistics companies, shipping companies, and other players in the industry will gather at the Blue Med Convention Center in Santos.

In total, delegations from more than 35 countries will join the 50 international speakers and almost one hundred exhibitors, who will present their products and services in the 4 thousand square meters of the convention center. In this edition, all participants will be able to enjoy the Fan Fest, a space that the organizers have designed to ensure that no one misses the World Cup matches, taking into account the great soccer ascendancy that characterizes Brazil and the countries of the region.

“We have been working well in advance with the organizing team in the preparations for what we expect to be one of the largest AAPA Latino congresses, and that is part of our strategic agenda, with which we are entering a new moment in the history of the Port of Santos”, summarized Fernando Biral, Director-President of the Santos Port Authority (SPA).

Meanwhile, Rafael Diaz-Balart, AAPA Latin American Coordinator, said that for the international association “it is an honor that the leading port in Latin America opens its doors and hosts one of the largest events in the industry so far; and that will also allow us to know its facilities, to approach its reality as a business hub and understand the key role it plays for the economy of Brazil and the continent”.

Furthermore, Zulma Dinelli, the AAPA Latino General Director, invited all the industry players from all over the continent to ensure their participation in the event.

“It is the Congress to be it because it brings together those who make the big decisions in the sector in Latin America, a region that holds more than 1.500 port facilities, which will continue to grow and requires new solutions. And also because Santos is preparing to receive us with a great celebration”, she said.

In its conference program, the event will address issues related to the regional port industry and its upcoming challenges, within the framework of the post-pandemic recovery cycle of the port & logistic activity, which includes digital transformation processes and important investments in infrastructure and technology, financing for strategic growth, cyber security, and energy transition in transportation, among others.

As is now a tradition, a technical visit to the Port of Santos is also contemplated, which in 2021 alone mobilized more than 147 million tons of cargo and is currently the largest port complex in Latin America.

As the main source of commercial exchange of sugar, coffee, soy, orange juice, fuels, bulk liquids, and automobiles in its country, it generates maritime connections with more than 200 terminals around the world.

The visit will be complemented by networking activities and business roundtables; a huge exhibitors’ fair; cultural visits and other social events.

Further information on the event, its participants, and contents, as well as the different ways to participate, is available on the website www.aapalatino.com or can be requested at [email protected].