Missão Internacional Porto & Mar 2026 concludes program in China with visit to Hutchison Ports

Representatives from Hutchison Ports explain the group's operations to part of the Brazilian delegation (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

The Missão Internacional Porto & Mar 2026 came to an end on Tuesday (2) after two weeks of intensive activities in China. The official closing took place in Hong Kong with a visit to Hutchison Ports, one of the world's largest port operators, followed by a farewell dinner bringing together members of the Brazilian delegation.

During the morning, business leaders, executives, and government officials attended an institutional presentation hosted by the company, which manages port operations across dozens of countries. The meeting enabled the delegation to gain a deeper understanding of the group's global activities, expansion strategies, and the challenges facing the logistics sector in an increasingly integrated and technology-driven environment.

Representatives from Hutchison Ports also highlighted trends related to port modernization, process digitalization, and operational efficiency — topics that were present throughout virtually every agenda item during the mission.

In addition to the presentation, the meeting served as another networking opportunity for Brazilian participants and representatives of the international port sector, reinforcing one of the initiative's main objectives: creating connections capable of generating future business opportunities, investments, and knowledge exchange.

In the evening, delegation members attended a farewell dinner in Hong Kong, marked by a celebratory atmosphere, exchange of experiences, and an assessment of the results achieved throughout the trip.

During the gathering, business leaders and public officials emphasized the relevance of the mission not only because of the visits conducted, but also because of the connections established among representatives from the public sector, private sector, and institutions linked to the logistics and port supply chain.

Organized by Grupo Tribuna , the Missão Internacional Porto & Mar 2026 brought together more than 40 participants and traveled through some of China's most dynamic regions, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.

Throughout the program, the delegation visited leading companies in technology, artificial intelligence, automation, mobility, and infrastructure, as well as some of the largest port complexes in the world.

More than simply observing trends, the mission enabled Brazilian business leaders to gain direct exposure to experiences that are transforming the global economy and redefining strategic sectors for the future.

With the conclusion of the activities, participants begin their return to Brazil bringing with them not only technical knowledge, but also new connections, business opportunities, and a broader perspective on the paths China has forged in the fields of technology, innovation, and logistics.

"The Missão Internacional is a tremendous responsibility, and we came to China accompanied by representatives from the Federal Government, Antaq, a Justice of the Federal Court of Accounts, the Presidency of the Santos City Council, the Secretary of Port Affairs, and several business leaders from the Port of Santos. Here, we learned a great deal about technology", said Roberto Clemente Santini, CEO of TV Tribuna .

"I consider this mission an extremely positive experience. We were very surprised by what we saw, as not everyone truly understands what China is today, and they are highly advanced. We are leaving with a tremendous amount of knowledge. They have discipline and stand out for their long-term vision and planning capabilities. They make things happen", said Demetrio Amono, Business Director of Grupo Tribuna .

"We can confidently say that this Missão Internacional organized by Grupo Tribuna was the best ever. I have worked in the port sector for approximately 30 years, and I must admit that I have never seen an agenda with such high quality and valuable content. It represented roughly six months of intensive work and planning", said Maxwell Rodrigues, Port Affairs Consultant for Grupo Tribuna .

"We were impressed by the quality of the work carried out by the Chinese, which is the result of very long-term planning. The Missão Internacional provided a great opportunity to learn about new practices and improve our audits, while encouraging innovation and the enhancement of systems, port operations, and other entities that we continuously audit in Brazil", said Marcos Bemquerer Costa, Justice of the Federal Court of Accounts.

"What impressed me most about China is that everything is developed on a large scale, whether in container terminals, innovation centers, or technology research. They invest heavily in innovation to ensure that some ideas truly succeed. I believe this is the only way for our ideas to become successful businesses", said Erick Aeck, Director of Van Oord.

"It was extremely important for us to come to China and observe new technologies. Given Brazil's bureaucratic pace, entrepreneurs need to stay ahead of their time so that when projects are implemented in our country, they do not arrive already outdated. Brazil needs to draw inspiration from these examples and integrate technologies for the benefit of society", said Lucas Mourão, entrepreneur.

"I had the opportunity to come here in 2011, and it is impressive what this country has accomplished over the past 15 years in general terms, not only in logistics, which was the primary objective of the trip. In terms of public safety, for example—one of Brazil's main challenges—we noticed complete peace of mind. Everyone walks around holding their phones without any fear of robbery", said André Canoilas, Director of AMC Holding.

Roberto Clemente Santini, Demetrio Amono, Maxwell Rodrigues (top); Marcos Bemquerer Costa, Erick Aeck, Lucas Mourão, and André Canoilas (bottom) (Reproduction)

Legacy of innovation, connections, and opportunities

The 2026 edition of the Missão Internacional Porto & Mar will be remembered as one of the most comprehensive ever organized by Grupo Tribuna since the project's inception in 2005.

Over the course of two weeks, the Brazilian delegation visited innovation centers, technology companies, automated factories, artificial intelligence hubs, automotive manufacturers, science parks, and some of the world's largest ports.

Among the highlights were visits to Baidu, Huawei, ZPMC, SenseTime, UiSee, Baic, Hong Kong Science Park, and the port complexes of Shanghai, Yantian, and Hutchison.

The mission also provided unique experiences for participants, including rides in autonomous vehicles, exposure to applied artificial intelligence projects, visits to highly automated factories, and an immersive experience within the technological ecosystem driving China's growth.

On the institutional front, one of the most significant moments was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Santos and the Yantian District in Shenzhen, strengthening cooperation between the two cities and paving the way for future partnerships.

Another distinguishing feature of this edition was its strong focus on business generation. In addition to the technical visits, participants had the opportunity to establish direct contacts with Chinese executives, government authorities, and representatives of major international groups.