Get ready for the Colombo International Maritime and Logistics Conference 2026- 9^th to 11^th September

8^th edition

“Building a world around us”

The Colombo International Maritime & Logistics Conference is the premier regional event, where global maritime leaders, regional policy makers gather to discuss new horizons and challenges the global shipping community faces.

This year’s conference brings in more focus to Sri Lanka as South Asia’s leading platform for transshipment and logistics hub that has tremendous advantages beyond its location. The Indian sub-continent continues to grow in its container throughput and amongst the world’s fastest.

Sri Lanka situated in the crossroads of East West global trade traffic, is a secure location for shipping and ports where it is exclusively out of any global choke points which provides seamless passage options through number of continents. International businesses have now recognised, Sri Lanka’s ability to establish world class distribution and fulfilment centers that can provide value added services for all logistics providers.

The 8^th edition of the Colombo International Maritime and Logistics Conference (CIMC) 2026 is scheduled to take place from September 9 to 11, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel Galadari Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Conference Theme and Focus

The 2026 edition centers on the theme "Building a world around us," emphasizing Sri Lanka's role as a critical hub in the global supply chains. Key focus areas include:

• South Asian Growth: With India projected to be the third-largest economy by 2030 and with massive container output, the conference will serve as a platform for shipping and logistics companies and investors to explore regional investment dynamics and connectivity with backward integration, along with the new policies of public private partnerships in developing terminals and ports in Sri Lanka.
• Capacity Expansion: Discussions will highlight the Sri Lanka’s massive port capacity increase, aiming for nearly 100% new container capacity by the end of 2027 and doubling the same by 2040, in Colombo & Hambantota, to solidify its status as a top transshipment hub that will be open for international investments in container terminals with shipping lines and other terminal operators.
• Logistics, storage and distribution: The opportunities to secure efficient logistics services, including free port operations, transit value addition, storage & distribution for cargo and bunker services and multimodal transport connectivity options will be a key theme at these years discussions.
• Technology transition: The conference will evaluate, 360-degree opportunities, adapt the latest technologies to all logistics related industries, making Sri Lanka a partner in supporting efficient, secure supply chain destinations to global clients. International best practices will be discussed including AI and cyber security.

• The role of international organisations: The development agencies, such as the World Bank, ADB, JICA, KOICA, AUSAID, EU, US State Department etc will speak on future developments in the region and Sri Lanka’s prospects for infrastructure and project development.

 Event Highlights

The three-day program is expected to host around 500 delegates and features:

1. Inauguration & Networking: An opening ceremony followed by a high-level networking reception.
2. Full day conference sessions: 10 to 12 conference sessions will cover detailed discussions on opportunities in Sri Lanka and the emerging sub-continent.
3. Report Launch: The event will feature the official launch of the South Asia Container Report 2026, providing critical data for industry stakeholders and related port and shipping discussions

Strategic Importnace

This conference is a must attend for global partners involved in shipping and logistics along with global leaders and innovators, with decision makers & investors, donor agencies, to identify business priorities and drive the diversification of investments to secure supply chain security, sustainability and lessons learned from west Asia crisis. This conference will give alternative options for the stability of inventory management and shipping services to provide uninterrupted services for unforeseen geopolitical and environmental disruptions that can cause billions of dollars to the global shipping economy and logistics industry. The conference will discuss services, infrastructure, security and technology transformation.

This conference has been endorsed and supported by the Government of Sri Lanka, President’s Office, the regional governments, international organisations and chambers with the private sector taking the lead role.

The conference is organized by CIMC Events in collaboration with the Shippers' Academy Colombo and Shippers’ Academy International.