Brasil Export joins association of ports of Portuguese-speaking countries

Membership was approved during the Aplop conference in Rio de Janeiro, which discussed topics such as innovation, digitalization, sustainability and customs challenges

The Brasil Export Group has had its membership approved in the Association of Portuguese-Speaking Ports (Aplop), which brings together public and private entities from the port sector of the countries of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP). The announcement was made last Friday (27), during the “Innovation, Digitalization and Sustainability” Conference, held at the Port of Rio de Janeiro.

With this officialization, Brasil Export becomes part of Aplop's membership alongside other Brazilian, Portuguese and African entities, such as port authorities and companies linked to logistics activities.

Held at Pier Space, at PortosRio's facilities, the conference aimed to strengthen integration between CPLP ports, fostering the exchange of experiences and the joint development of solutions in the areas of innovation, digitalization, sustainability and renewable energy.

The opening ceremony was attended by Francisco Martins, CEO of PortosRio; João Pedro Neves, president of Aplop and the Portuguese Ports Association; Ronaldo Corrêa, deputy superintendent of the Federal Revenue Service of Rio de Janeiro; and Alex Sandro de Ávila, national secretary of Ports and Waterway Transport.

The event’s program included three technical panels throughout the morning. The first addressed customs challenges in CPLP ports, with the participation of representatives from customs authorities in Brazil, Portugal and Angola. The second panel presented Aplop’s working groups, focusing on Port Law, innovation, sustainability and renewable ocean energy. The third debate brought together experts from the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq), the Port of Açu and a Portuguese consultant to discuss new technologies and opportunities for shipbuilding.

Aplop advisor José Luís Cacho highlighted the importance of the entity in promoting synergies between ports in countries that share the same language. “Aplop works continuously, bringing together public and private entities from Portuguese-speaking countries, and will continue to expand this network, especially in the technological and environmental areas. Our goal is to add value to the economies and ports of our countries.”

The program ended with final speeches, the presentation of commemorative PortosRio coins to participants and a celebratory lunch. In the afternoon, a meeting was held among the members, who are now preparing for the next official meeting: the Aplop Congress, scheduled for October of this year, in Angola.