3rd SCN Regional Meeting – Cartagena 2023

A very positive response to our first regional meeting in LATAM. Due to members requesting more coverage in the region, we set up a regional meeting with an aim of attracting members interested in doing business in the region and also members and potential members to explain more of traffic flows and their specializations.

Members from all over the region joined members interested in boosting their traffic with this fascinating market of great potential.

After a welcome cocktail, it was straight into the logistics material – What was SCN trying to achieve? which was to join together forwarders of the region to consider logistics capabilites of the region and explain to others to make the possible start to happen. Through debate in the motivated group, a good understanding of traffic types and how to navigate potential issues with LATAM was discussed.

Later in the regional meeting, some time was dedicated to discuss and focus member’s experiences on digitalization. With so many options available while client demand changes and develops, we wanted to help members share their successes (and failures) in implementing digital solutions to their logistics services to provide greater efficiency and accuracy while still remaining an understanding and personalised source for clients.

Time was of course made available for one-to-one meetings, so that members were able to discuss in depth specific matters on a member to member basis. We are pleased to indicate that we are ALREADY seeing the fruits of these contacts with major traffics starting between Brasil and Argentina, a new LATAM commercial platform being developed and many other shipments about to start.

After the official business was concluding in Colombia, we were treated to the very special character of Cartagena, with a fantastic dinner in the harbour on board a catamaran followed by a crazy and somewhat unconventional bus ride on a “Chiva Rumbera” – memorable is an understatement.

In conclusion, LATAM is very firmly on the map in the SCN network and beyond. As global issues affect many regions, with demand from major markets faltering, the region’s own demand, plus a potential for filling the near-shoring needs of changing geo-political requirements, it is not possible to ignore the immense potential of the region. Who will be able to take advantage in a sustainable and informed way, is the main question. SCN will be there to help members answer that question and develop more ties.