The 19th MedaLogistics Week focuses on the future of Mediterranean logistics in a new global economic order and its advantage as a hub between continents and global trading powers

• The Mediterranean Logistics and Transport Week is organised by the Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) and the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), with the collaboration of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, as part of the 23^rd edition of the International Logistics Exhibition (SIL) in Barcelona.

• This Mediterranean and international event will host the 15^th Ports and Maritime Transport Summit, the 19^th Mediterranean Logisitics and Transport Forum and the 2^nd Africa Logistics Meeting.

Barcelona, 23 March 2023 – The dates have been announced for the 19^th edition of the Mediterranean Logistics and Transport Week (MedaLogistics Week), a meeting jointly organised by the Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) and the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), with the collaboration of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and the MedPorts Association. The event will take place on 8 and 9 June 2023, within the framework of the Barcelona International Logistics Exhibition (SIL), the main trade fair for the logistics sector in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean, also organised by the CZFB.

The conference and forum programme will feature more than 30 speakers, leading experts who will address current issues and challenges in global and regional trade and investment.

MedalLogistics Week is one of the main Mediterranean leading networking platforms for supply chain and logistics activities. Through the annual forums, experiences are shared, future projects are presented and business opportunities, investment, news and trends are discussed. The event will therefore attract more than 300 participants, including senior government officials from Mediterranean countries, port managers, procurement decision-makers together with leading transport companies, importers and exporters, shipping lines, logistics companies, ports, terminal operators, rail operators and more from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

This is an excellent opportunity for companies in the logistics and transport industry to exchange knowledge on the latest trends and future developments in the Mediterranean region and constantly improve the level of excellence with a group of world-class speakers from around the world discussing with customers, colleagues and competitors about technologies and innovations for an ever-changing market environment.

The importance of logistics and transport in geopolitics and crises

The 19^th edition of MedaLogistics Week happens at a pivotal time: global trade routes have been shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic and a series of geopolitical wars, financial disasters and environmental disruptions. In order to continue to transport the products and goods that consumers and societies need, a new attitude and approach to supply chains is required. Logistics hubs in the Mediterranean region could provide the combination of resilience and speed required for modern logistics.

In this edition it is important to highlight the alliance between ASCAME and MedPorts, the Mediterranean ports association, to jointly organise and promote the 15^th Ports and Maritime Transport Summit, which will be attended by senior officials from the majority of Mediterranean ports and companies in the maritime sector. They will discuss connectivity between logistics and supply nodes, as well as investment strategies to promote sustainable development and digitalisation.

The 19^th Mediterranean Logistics and Transport Forum will discuss the future of the Mediterranean value chain in the new global order, with a special focus on the aviation sector in the Middle East and Africa. In addition, solutions for retail suppliers in e-commerce and for start-ups in the logistics and transport sectors will be discussed. A special session will be dedicated to Egypt, as guest country, presenting its logistics potential, the importance of the Suez Canal and investment plans in the sector within the 2030 agenda.

The 2^nd Africa Logistics Meeting will be a great opportunity to bring together the continent’s logistics leaders to develop plans and policies for capacity building, showcasing business opportunities in the logistics and transport sector and highlighting the continent’s strong dynamism.

During the conference, the main priorities to be adopted to modernise the sector and its key role in economic and social development will be discussed, as well as solutions to support the economic integration of the Greater African Free Trade Area, the role of governments and the need for innovation. Furthermore, this conference will discuss how to solve some of the challenges that many companies experience within the logistics and supply chain ecosystem. How to align key international best practices that can be applicable in Africa will also be discussed.

To round off the programme, MedaLogistics Week will present several international initiatives and projects such as the Mediterranean Trade Enhancement Hub, a platform to support the growth and financing of logistics SMEs in the region, and will organise special B2B meetings with Mediterranean and European entrepreneurs from the logistics and transport sector.

Anwar Zibaoui, General Coordinator of ASCAME and MedaLogistics Week, highlights that the Mediterranean’s strategic location is unique in facilitating global trade and logistics: “But the regional economic potential needs to be unlocked. To do so, we must focus on integration and build a unified strategy that encourages investment, construction, modernisation and infrastructure management.