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• 3 min de lectura
The port industry of Latin America and the Caribbean now has a new call for entries to recognize the best practices, projects, and initiatives that are transforming the maritime-port operation of the region. The American Association of Port Authorities for Latin America and the Caribbean (AAPA LATAM) and the Secretariat of the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP-OAS) of the Organization of American States launched the fifth edition of the Award for Excellence in the Port Industry, an award that seeks to distinguish ports, terminals, and operators that have achieved outstanding results through innovation, efficiency, and strategic collaboration.
The call for entries takes place in a context where ports maintain a fundamental role for the regional economy, concentrating the movement of more than 95% of the hemisphere's exports. Under this scenario, the recognition aims to highlight those projects capable of strengthening logistical competitiveness and contributing to the economic and social development of the region's countries.
For the 2026 edition, the award includes three categories considered key for the future of the port sector. The first is focused on Technology and Innovation, aimed at organizations that have incorporated advanced technological tools to optimize processes and elevate their operational performance. The second corresponds to Port Performance and Growth, which distinguishes initiatives capable of demonstrating operational improvements with tangible and verifiable economic impacts. Finally, the Public-Private Partnerships category seeks to recognize cooperation schemes between sectors that promote the sustainable development of port activity.
The structure of the call reflects the main trends that currently mark the agenda of ports internationally. The digitalization of processes, the search for higher levels of operational efficiency, and the integration between public and private actors have become determining factors to increase the competitiveness and resilience of logistics chains.
Participating projects will be evaluated using a set of criteria that consider indicators of efficiency and operational capacity, as well as the economic benefits generated by the initiatives and their ability to trigger positive effects on local economies. The projects' contribution to trade facilitation and how they strengthen cooperation with other actors in the maritime and logistics industry will also be analyzed.
In addition to operational and economic aspects, the award incorporates a comprehensive vision that includes elements of environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and inclusion. In this sense, actions related to environmental protection will be valued, as well as strategies that promote equity and the participation of diverse groups within the industry, including initiatives with a gender perspective.
With this, AAPA LATAM and CIP-OAS seek to consolidate a reference standard to identify and disseminate success stories that contribute to strengthening the hemispheric port system, at a time when the modernization of infrastructure and the adoption of new technologies are decisive factors for maintaining competitiveness in an increasingly demanding commercial environment.
Winners of the 2026 edition will be recognized during the AAPA LATAM Annual Congress 2026, considered one of the main gatherings of the continent's port industry, which will take place from December 1 to 4 in Antigua, Guatemala. In addition to the awards ceremony, selected projects will gain regional visibility through the institutional channels of both organizations.
The call for entries will remain open until July 8, while the results will be announced on July 30. With this, the convening organizations seek to encourage the participation of ports and terminals throughout the hemisphere to share experiences that contribute to the development of a strategic industry for the economic and commercial integration of Latin America and the Caribbean.
