In the unpredictable context of the world economy over the last year APLOG considered that it would be important, in its 2009 Congress to reflect on the role of logistics in times of uncertainty.

Over the last few months many opinions have been offered on how to react to the economic and financial crisis that has rocked the Global Village in which we live.

Technological progress and expansion of the Internet over the last decade have made it possible to use powerful tools that have greatly benefited economic activities. But it was these powerful tools themselves, that over the last year, also acted as the lightning-fast source of alarming news.

In its 12th edition, APLOG's Logistics Congress has a notable new aspect - it has a guest country - the Netherlands. Over the last few months intensive work alongside the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has led to an attractive programme for the 13th and 14th October, 2009.

The 12th APLOG Logistics Congress will be rich with debate, based on a multitude of experiences and points of view, which will certainly provide business opportunities and solutions to overcoming current difficulties.

At a time when a transition from the leadership of the financial sector to the leadership of the production sector can be glimpsed, it is clear that many opportunities will emerge in an area that is as broad-ranging for production as logistics. It is thus essential for us to know about new business models to understand the opportunities within the Supply Chain. Since the 1980s many manufacturing companies have gained more from financial speculation than from their products. In the next few years we will witness a re-birth of businesses based on new rules and a new era, framed by an information and communication technology revolution and which are already halfway there.

APLOG's 12th Logistics Congress will have the usual format - plenary sessions and parallel sessions - and will involve presentations by 30 Portuguese and international speakers, covering issues such as economic and financial leverage, logistics responses to new business models, the trends in supply chain management, airport city logistics, making the future a reality up to 2020, and the challenges of change in maritime transport.

We are confident that the proposed themes will create a great deal of interest and, consequently, high attendance.

Until the Congress we leave you with our Logistical Greetings.

António Jorge Costa
presidente@aplog.pt