The IAPORTS Investment Round, a groundbreaking initiative developed in strategic partnership with B3 – the Brazilian Stock Exchange – and the International Association of Port Development (IAPORTS), has officially concluded with resounding success. The event, held in São Paulo, brought together a powerful coalition of global investors, development banks, port authorities, and infrastructure developers to advance capital-intensive port investment opportunities across Latin America and beyond.
Over the course of the morning, more than 50 high-level investment matchmaking meetings were facilitated between port authorities and terminal operators, highlighting strategic expansion projects across terminal infrastructure and dredging operations – critical components for regional and global trade competitiveness.
The initiative attracted key financial institutions, including CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean), the New Development Bank (Bank of BRICS), and BNDES (Brazilian National Development Bank), all expressing active interest in expanding their port financing portfolios in Latin America.
Nine investment rounds enabled strategic one-on-one connections, while nine keynote sessions featured leading global ports presenting visionary infrastructure projects. Among the presenters were the Port of Santos, the largest port in South America; Port of Miami, one of the top U.S. hubs for hemispheric trade; and Tecon Central, poised to become Brazil’s largest transshipment container terminal.
“The success of this first IAPORTS Investment Round is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships,” said Raquel Kibrit, Executive Director of the International Association of Port Development (IAPORTS). “Bringing together B3 and the global investment community to discuss and match capital to transformational port projects is a powerful step toward a new era of sustainable and scalable port development.”
Monica Salles Lanna, representing B3, added: “B3 is proud to be at the forefront of this pioneering initiative. We believe that the port sector is vital to Brazil’s growth and global integration, and facilitating these investment dialogues is core to our mission as one of the world’s largest stock exchanges.”
Representing Port Miami, Eric Olafson noted: “Participating in this event was an exceptional opportunity for Port Miami. Engaging directly with Latin American port leaders allowed for in-depth conversations on intercontinental collaboration and long-term investment opportunities that support the resilience and modernization of our hemisphere’s trade gateways.”
Francisco Martins, CEO of Portos Rio, emphasized the national significance: “The IAPORTS Investment Round was a bold and necessary move. For Portos Rio and the broader Brazilian port system, this initiative marks a strategic turning point, aligning international capital with our most urgent infrastructure demands. It sets a new benchmark for how Brazil can attract, structure, and accelerate port investment.”
The momentum continues: IAPORTS will host a virtual edition of the Investment Round in September 2025, creating new online opportunities for global engagement. The next in-person edition is scheduled to coincide with Intermodal South America in 2026. Save the date and don’t miss your chance to be part of this movement driving port development and investment across the globe.
If you’re a port leader or investor interested in joining this initiative, please reach out to us at IAPORTS — we welcome new voices and visionary projects shaping the future of port infrastructure.
IAPORTS | International Association of Port Development
www.iaports.com
La entrada IAPORTS Investment Round in Partnership with B3 Marks a Historic Milestone for Global Port Investment se publicó primero en Actualidad Marítima y Portuaria.