Panama reaffirmed as Host of FIATA World Congress 2024
The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) reaffirmed its support for APAC Panama as the host of the 61st FIATA World Congress Panama 2024. The event will take place from September 23rd – 27th, 2024 at the state-of-the-art Panama Convention Center in Panama City.
The FIATA World Congress is the most important event in the global logistics industry, bringing together representatives from freight forwarder associations and unions from around the world. The 2024 edition will be the first time the event has been held in Latin America in 23 years.
The decision to reaffirm support to Panama as the host was made following a second site inspection conducted by the FIATA Director-General, Dr Stéphane Graber and Adithi Koushik, FIATA Transport Policy and Events Officer on December 2nd to 6th, 2024. The FIATA representatives were impressed with Panama’s infrastructure, logistical capabilities, and the industry cluster´s Private and Public alliances that were committed to hosting such an important event.
A meeting at the Presidential Palace was hosted and chaired by the Minister Counsellor for the International Private Investment H.E. Alejandro Rojas-Pardini who gathered the Government Authorities including representatives from the Panama Maritime Authority, the Immigration National Service, the Panama National Customs Authority, Propanama, Promtur Panama (DMO), Tocumen International Airport, the Colon Free Zone, and The Logistics Cabinet to guarantee the involvement, support, and engagement with the Local Organizing Committee to secure a successful event.
Ángel Sánchez, President of the Panamanian Association of Freight Forwarders (APAC) led a presentation of the Congress highlighting the most important challenges to reach the objectives in terms of academic and commercial exchange among the companies, institutions and individuals attending the event.
In response to the challenges raised, the government representatives expressed their commitment to provide the necessary support to ensure the success of the Congress.
«The FIATA 2024 Congress is a unique opportunity for Panama to showcase its leadership in the logistics sector and attract investment and trade in the Region and Worldwide» said H E Rojas-Pardini. «We are committed to supporting the organizers to make the event a success.»
For his part, Mr Sánchez thanked the government’s support and assured that the congress organizers are working hard to ensure its success. “The FIATA 2024 Congress will leave a positive impact and a sustainable legacy for the country, positioning Panama as the most dynamic multimodal logistics hub in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Sánchez.
The FIATA World Congress 2024 is expected to attract over 900 attendees from over 140 countries. The event will feature a wide range of activities, including conferences, workshops, exhibitions, B2B meetings, and networking events to facilitate the business exchange between suppliers and clients in the multimodal logistics sector.
The FIATA Director General noted that “such alignment and joint collaboration between the public and private sector, necessary for such large events, is unique, and as a result, I am confident that the FIATA World Congress in Panama will be memorable for all involved and offer great business opportunities.”
«We are confident that the FIATA World Congress 2024 will help to promote Panama as a destination for investment and trade,» said Giovanni Ferrari, general manager of the Colón Free Zone.
The FIATA World Congress 2024 is an opportunity for Panama to distinguish itself as a global logistics hub and for logistics professionals from around the world to come together and share ideas about the future of the industry.
ABOUT FIATA:
FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations is a non- governmental, membership-based organisation representing freight forwarders in some 150 countries. FIATA’s membership is composed of 114 Associations Members
and more than 6,000 Individual Members, overall representing an industry of 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics firms worldwide. Based in Geneva, FIATA is ‘the global voice of freight logistics. www.fiata.org
