Mediterranean transport sector to meet in Barcelona

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - The 16th Mediterranean Logistics and Transport Summit of Barcelona (MedaLogistics 2018) will be held on June 5-6 in Barcelona, Spain.

The two-day event, co-organized by the Consorci de Zona Franca de Barcelona and the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME), with help from the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, will continue to expand the horizons for the sector's growth.

The forum will address the blue economy, logistics 4.0, and the new technological solutions that make their way into the sector, as well as the key role of airports and ports in economic development, it said.

“At a time when the logistics sector is booming, with a greater demand for service from customers and the emergence of new competitors, the countries of the region are reviewing their logistics processes and joining the digital revolution,” ASCAME said in a statement.

Representatives of organizations, international and regional associations, as well as entrepreneurs and experts will discuss the sector's current situation, and the challenges and business opportunities.

The forum will focus on the transcendental role of transportation in Mediterranean countries' economies as well as worldwide, presenting initiatives, contributing cases, and concrete experiences of the private sector.

According to the statement, the Mediterranean region has more than 450 ports and terminals, represents 30 percent of the world's maritime trade by volume, and is the second-largest destination in the world for cruise tourism, with a coastal population of 150 million people.

In 2017, over 14,000 participants attended the international meeting, the chamber added.