AAPA Latam congress to bring together industry leaders in Guatemala

Quetzal is Guatemala's largest port on the Pacific Ocean; the country is considered strategically important for the sector (AdobeStock)

The 2026 Latin American Congress of Ports, organized by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA Latam), will be held from December 1 to 4 in Guatemala City, bringing together more than 700 leaders from the maritime, port, and logistics sectors to discuss the challenges that will shape Latin America's competitiveness in the coming years. Grupo Tribuna is an event partner.

Organized in partnership with the Autoridade Designada do Sistema Portuário Nacional da Guatemala and produced by PR Ports, the congress will feature four days of panel discussions, debates, and business meetings aimed at port authorities, government representatives, logistics operators, terminal executives, investors, technology providers, and multilateral organizations.

This will be the first edition of the congress in Guatemala since the event held 14 years ago in Antígua. According to the organizers, the country was selected at a time of significant transformation within Guatemala's port system and amid Central America's growing importance in international trade routes.

Guatemala's strategic location between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, combined with ongoing projects to modernize port infrastructure, digitalize operations, strengthen governance, and expand logistics connectivity, was identified as one of the key factors behind the selection of the host country.

According to the congress's Director General, Zulma Dinelli, each edition of AAPA Latam begins with a strategic decision regarding the country that will host the event. She noted that the organization seeks locations undergoing significant transformation and capable of providing new perspectives for regional discussions.

In the executive's assessment, Guatemala's geostrategic location, together with investments in port modernization and stronger logistics integration, makes the country an ideal venue for discussing the future of the sector. More information and registration are available on the event website .