The primary theme to come out of the third Cargo Logistics Canada Expo + Conference (CLC) in Montreal earlier this year was that of growth, which is the ideal lead-in for CLC17, returning to Vancouver February 8-9, in terms of how the logistics and multimodal transport sectors are preparing to handle these increases.
Industry leaders in Montreal shared forecasts that included close to a million more TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) entering the Canadian market over the next five years.
New and impending trade deals, such as the newly inked Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union could help spur this growth.
These trade agreements, along with where and how the ensuing global cargos they produce will move, shall be discussed in a variety of ways at CLC17 in Vancouver with panels that include:
· Ocean Shipping Outlook: The world of ocean shipping has been going through upheaval and change in recent years and there’s likely more to come as a group of experts and stakeholders present an outlook and forecast for this crucial supply chain sector
· Air Cargo 2017: Providing the air-side perspective
· North American Economic Outlook: From a thorough macroeconomic overview to discussion of the significant change in political leadership on the other side of the border, two noted economists offer up complementary economic outlooks for North America as we kick off the CLC Main Stage series
· Competitive Trade Routes: Will focus on the Panama and Suez canals, among other related global trade routing trends
· Shippers Roundtable: Cargo customers will include discussion on these growth patterns and challenges from the cargo customers’ perspective
· Lunch Keynote fireside chat: With Bjorn Vang Jensen, global logistics director of Electrolux, the second-largest appliance manufacturer in the world
· Mayors’ Summit: The featured Day 2 Lunch Keynote roundtable with the leaders of major Canadian cities discussing the opportunities and challenges their regions face with economic growth
For all the goods moving throughout Canada, the many corresponding supply chains need to be ready, and several panels at CLC will deal with this, including:
· Goods Movement Strategies parts 1 and 2: Will go from the importance of different yet interconnected stakeholders being on the same page in terms of freight mobility, to plans for intermodal rail all over North America
· Meeting the Challenges of Growth Demand: A Shipper’s Perspective
· The Shortage of Logistics Land and the Evolving Warehouse
· The Nexus of Economic Development and Logistics
· Commodities Transport and Logistics Trends
· Seafood Logistics: Nothing Fishy Here
The CLC conference agenda will also drill down into how the many diverse, multimodal supply chains operate, especially from the technological side of things, which can present its set of challenges if not navigated properly. Panels in this subject area will include:
· Future Logistics Technologies Available Right Now
· Multimodal Technology Trends
· Disruptive, Necessary, or Both? The impacts of evolving logistics technologies on your supply chain
· The Refrigerated Transportation Best Practices Guide
· Dock Safety: Where trucks and the warehouse meet
· Time for a Checkup: Optimize your Canada Border Services Agency container exam
What is just as important as the trends, issues and operational aspects for cargo logistics supply chains is the professional development and educational aspects, and the conference will also feature this type of content, including:
· Trying to Reduce Operational Costs? Leadership strategies for improvement
· How Effective Leaders Build Strong Teams
· Motivation: Getting the most from yourself and your team
· Responsible Procurement and Sustainable Supply Chains
· Comply or Die? Untangling compliance issues
Cargo Logistics Canada aligns a lot of the show conference content under the respective banners of the following summits, befitting North America’s only multimodal expo where all supply chains gather under one roof:
· Commodities and Cold Chain Summit
· Distribution Logistics Summit
· Port Productivity Summit
· Shippers Summit
With regard to the Shippers Summit, CLC has instituted a VIP Shippers Program whereby importers, exporters and manufacturers from around Canada and the U.S. will be attending as part of an exclusive program tailored for them.
Cargo Logistics Canada will also offer a variety of additional, dynamic platforms for attendees to network, connect and do business with 2,500-plus peers, customers, prospects and vendors in attendance, including:
· A show floor of 150-plus exhibitors representing a wide array of products and services
· More conference content on the show floor including the new CLC Main Stage for VIP all-access and a la carte pass holders, plus the free CLC Live! area
· A big welcome reception on the third floor of the Vancouver Convention Centre with spectacular evening views of the harbour on February 7
· Networking reception on the show floor February 8 followed by the Halifax Social at Mahoney & Sons Burrard Landing
· Happy hour on the show floor February 9
For more information about attending, exhibiting or sponsoring at Canada’s largest logistics event, go to: www.cargologisticscanada.com.
