Guatemala will host AAPA LATAM 2026 , one of the leading forums for the maritime and port industry in Latin America , at a time when the region’s ports face the challenge of adapting to a new configuration of international trade marked by the relocation of supply chains, the digitization of operations and the pressure to increase their logistical competitiveness.

From December 1 to 4, Guatemala City will bring together more than 700 representatives from port authorities , governments, logistics operators, terminals, multilateral organizations, technology companies and investors to analyze the impact that artificial intelligence, the energy transition, new trade corridors and the resilience of supply chains will have on port development in Latin America.

The 2026 edition of the congress, organized by AAPA LATAM in conjunction with the Designated Authority of the National Port System of Guatemala and PR PORTS , will mark the event’s return to the Central American country after 14 years. The choice of Guatemala as the host country coincides with the transformation underway in the Guatemalan port system and with Central America’s growing role in international trade routes.

For Zulma Dinelli, the Congress’s general director, the venue was selected due to the country’s current port development. “Each edition of AAPA LATAM begins with a strategic decision: choosing the best place to discuss the future of the industry. We look for countries that are leading transformation processes and that can enrich the regional conversation. Guatemala meets these conditions: it combines a privileged geostrategic location, an ongoing port modernization agenda, and a clear commitment to strengthening its logistics integration.”

The meeting’s agenda will address topics related to technological innovation, port governance, infrastructure, connectivity, and cooperation between the public and private sectors , under the premise that the competitiveness of ports no longer depends solely on expanding their installed capacity, but also on responding to an increasingly dynamic commercial environment.

In this context, Guatemala will use the forum to present the progress of its port modernization strategy. Leonel Molina, Director General of the Designated Authority of the National Port System of Guatemala , noted that the Congress will allow them to share with the international community “the progress of the port reform that Guatemala is undergoing.”

Among the initiatives are the future General Law of the Port System , the creation of a National Port Authority and various projects to strengthen the operational capacity of Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomás de Castilla and the Puerto Barrios Railway Terminal, in addition to investments to improve the country’s land and rail connectivity.

Molina even suggested that AAPA LATAM 2026 could become the platform for announcing the approval of Guatemala’s first General Law of the Port System and the eventual creation of the National Port Authority derived from that legislation. “We hope to be able to announce the approval of the first General Law of the Port System during Congress and, if time allows, present the first National Port Authority derived from that legislation,” he stated.

In addition to the technical conferences, the meeting will include business meetings, a specialized exhibition and a technical visit to Puerto Quetzal , activities that will complement the exchange of experiences between authorities, port operators and companies linked to the regional logistics chain.

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The event will feature the participation of 33 leaders from Mexico, Venezuela, Panama, Guatemala, Argentina, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, and Spain, including presidents of port authorities, general directors, operational managers, and board members.

The meeting will seek to strengthen institutional cooperation and showcase Latin American talent in dialogue with Europe.

The preliminary agenda was presented during the meeting, which includes technical meetings at the Puertos del Estado headquarters in Madrid; tours of port facilities in Seville, Huelva, Cádiz, and Algeciras ; meetings with local authorities and representatives of organizations; panels on innovation, sustainability, digital transformation, and sector management; and networking opportunities between Latin American and European delegations.

Presentations of successful experiences and analyses of common challenges in contemporary port operations are also planned.

Event development

The technical seminar on September 23, at the Puertos del Estado headquarters in Madrid, will include, among other things, a discussion on national port policy and international cooperation.

Three thematic panels will be held at the event :

• “Energy Transition and Port Sustainability,” focusing on decarbonization, energy efficiency, and green ports.
• “Digitalization and Smart Ports,” focusing on automation, data integration, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms.
• “Governance and Infrastructure Planning,” which will address governance models, public investment, and institutional coordination.

The event will be complemented by a technical coffee break and networking opportunities , which will foster exchanges between Latin American representatives and specialists from the Spanish port system, along with government authorities and logistics stakeholders.

According to Zulma Dinelli, president and CEO of PR PORTS, and Guimara Tuñón, executive director of the Maritime Policy Bureau, this stage is key to consolidating alliances, projecting institutional capacities, and strengthening regional positioning in strategic scenarios.

In 2024, the Spanish port system recorded a total of 18.1 million 20-foot containers (TEUs) transported. In Latin America, Mexico, Panama, Colombia, and Peru were the countries with the highest number of TEUs transported.

Mexico emerged as the regional leader, operating 9,375,570 TEUs in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of the Navy; followed by Panama with 7,994,636 TEUs between January and October 2024, according to data from the Panama Maritime Authority; Colombia reached a throughput of 3,702,044 TEUs, according to reports from the Cartagena Port Group; and Peru with more than 3.5 million TEUs, according to figures from the country’s National Port Authority.

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Established as the region’s most relevant training and visibility program for women leaders, LIFE – Female Leadership for the Maritime-Port Sector – announced its fourth edition, which will take place from March 17 to 20, 2026, in Panama City. Organized by PR PORTS and MULTIMODAL , this regional gathering has become a strategic space to promote talent, equity, and innovation within a historically masculinized industry, but one undergoing rapid transformation.

Since its creation in 2023, LIFE has trained more than 150 professionals from 16 Latin American countries. Today, these professionals form a network of women with technical, executive, and operational profiles, generating a multiplier effect within their organizations. The program combines high-level training, mentoring, collaborative leadership, and a cross-cutting gender perspective , aiming not only at the individual growth of its participants but also at the institutional strengthening of the companies and institutions that support them.

Each LIFE program represents a turning point: not only for those who participate, but also for the maritime and port ecosystem as a whole. The program has demonstrated that investing in the development of women leaders generates concrete returns in terms of operational efficiency, organizational culture, talent retention, and sustainability.

LIFE 2026 is aimed at professional women working in ports, terminals, shipping companies, maritime agencies, logistics companies, public and multilateral organizations, business chambers, and technical training centers. It also calls on companies, institutions, and governments to join as strategic partners, strengthening their commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , especially those related to gender equality (SDG 5), decent work (SDG 8), and partnerships for development (SDG 17).

The program has the active support of key entities such as the Network of Women of Maritime Authorities of Latin America (Red MAMLa) , the Inter-American Commission on Ports (CIP-OAS) , the Central American Commission on Maritime Transport (COCATRAM) , the State Ports of Spain , the Panama Canal Authority and a growing network of international organizations, which reflects its regional reach and legitimacy.

Registration for LIFE 2026 is now open.

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