For eight years, the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (CCIAP) and the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT), have joined forces to present Expo Logistica Panama, which this year will be held from October 22 to 24 at the ATLAPA Convention Center.

“With the aim of supporting the National Strategy for the logistics industry, the Chamber of Commerce and SENACYT will contribute, through the fair, to the momentum of the potential of this sector, which contributes about 25% of the national gross domestic product,” said Jose Luis Ford, president of the CCIAP.

Ford also said that soon, with the Panama Canal expansion and increased capacity of port terminals, Panama’s competitive advantages will become more apparent, more attractive, more modern and more productive, to make the country the most important management of the supply chain logistics and processing path of the hemisphere.

Adolfo Noriega, President of the Organizing Committee of Expo Logistica Panama, said that in the past seven years the exhibition has established itself as one of the top three of its kind in the region and each year welcomes more visitors, exhibitors and knowledgeable logistics market executives.

Ruben Berrocal, National Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation said “SENACYT is committed to improving national competitiveness. We know that the logistics sector is essential to achieve this and that is why we are pleased to support the eighth consecutive year at Expo Logistica Panama 2014, which is an exemplary set for the private sector and government effort which seeks to strengthen the knowledge of our human resources, creating innovative and sustained economic growth of our country.”

One of the main attractions of this activity are the lecture sessions, which allow training and empower local and international professionals to interchange views with the participation of international logistics and multimodal transport experts, for its most efficient and environmentally friendly process for the planet.

In the 2014 version, a large number of national and international companies will participate as exhibitors in the area of technology, software, freight forwarders, airlines, cargo and the equipment necessary for logistics firms, among others that are expected.

Last year during the exhibition business transactions were carried out to the order of $5.3 million, an increase of 18% compared to the previous version.

In its seventh version, the exhibition welcomed more than 14,000 visitors in its exhibition area of 5,360m², attended by local and foreign companies distributed in more than 254 modules, which made 1,970 business contacts where exhibitors showcase products and services oriented towards logistics and multimodal transport by local and foreign companies.

In 2013, Expo Logistica Panama received visitors, exhibitors and speakers from over 11 countries, among which were China, Colombia, the United States, Costa Rica, England, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan and Uruguay.