Congress in Lima, Peru, aims to foster cooperation and boost Latin America

The event will highlight two of the country’s main port assets: the Port of Callao and the new Port of Chancay, inaugurated in November 2024 by the Chinese state-owned company Cosco Shipping (Disclosure/Cosco Shipping)

Fostering cooperation among countries and boosting Latin America in the global supply market through competitive ports and regulations aligned with international maritime transport standards — that is the goal of the Latin American Congress of Ports, organized by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), to be held from June 24 to 27 at the Westin Hotel in Lima, Peru.

The AAPA represents ports in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. AAPA Latam 2025 is the most important event in the sector in Latin America and is supported by Grupo Tribuna.

Zulma Dinelli, General Director of AAPA Latam 2025, told A Tribuna that the event is an opportunity for authorities and companies to work together on real proposals and solutions.

“We hope that from the exchanges and working sessions, ideas will emerge that help modernize regulations, facilitate trade, and boost investment. The goal is to have ports that are more competitive, connected, and future-ready.”

Zulma states that the event will cover topics such as sustainability, digital transformation, regional integration, and investment attraction, but above all, it aims to promote greater cooperation among Latin American countries. “There is still much to be done in terms of connectivity, efficiency, and regulatory harmonization, and we believe this congress can be the ideal meeting point to align public and private efforts with a long-term vision.”

The congress director emphasizes that choosing Peru as the host country is a strategic decision. According to her, it is a growing economy with a geostrategic location on the Pacific coast and a clear interest in modernizing its port infrastructure. “AAPA Latam 2025 will be a showcase for presenting advances in its terminals, new standards for the energy transition, and operational efficiency experiences.”

Chinese presence The event will highlight two of the country’s main port assets: the Port of Callao and the new Port of Chancay, inaugurated in November 2024 by the Chinese state-owned company Cosco Shipping. The complex will be capable of receiving post-Panamax vessels, ranging from 18,000 to 24,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) at full load, as it offers access to nearly 20 meters of depth along the Pacific coast, establishing a direct route to China.

Zulma points out that it is essential to generate discussions on how to achieve balance, make supply chains more resilient, and ensure that benefits are widely shared. “Logistics sovereignty is also built through strategic decisions.”

Port expansion and challenges on the agenda With a focus on international trade, the opening panel will discuss geopolitical challenges and their impact on bilateral and multilateral agreements, maritime and port transport routes, and intralogistics. Experts will also examine port expansion in Latin America, analyzing technological innovation, sustainability, automated terminals, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), among other topics.

Another panel will address new logistics demands from shippers, including advancements in sustainability and decarbonization, and adapting ports to regulatory requirements in this scope. Global maritime shipping alliances and their impact on Latin American routes and ports will also be discussed.

A further topic will be how terminals are responding to the challenges of automation, digitalization, and sustainability, alongside cybersecurity, traceability, and congestion.

There will also be a dedicated panel on cruise ships and the port-city relationship.

Agenda In addition to conferences, the agenda includes port visits in Peru, business meetings, an exhibitor fair, cultural tours, and social events. Registration is available at www.aapalatam.org/congreso.

In Santos In 2022, AAPA Latam was held in Santos from November 28 to 30. The event brought together over 50 speakers and 600 participants to discuss infrastructure, technology, consulting, innovation, and engineering. Due to its significant relevance to the sector, the event is partnered with Grupo Tribuna.