14th Regular Meeting of the CIP will be held in Bridgetown
Representatives of the 34 member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP), from Argentina to Canada, including the Caribbean, will gather in Barbados in June 2026 for the 14th Regular Meeting of the CIP.
The CIP, created in 1998 by the General Assembly of the OAS, is the only permanent Inter-American governmental forum that brings together the National Port Authorities of sovereign countries in South America, Central America, the Caribbean and North America. Barbados, by way of Barbados
Port Inc. (BPI), is the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean to Chair the CIP’s Executive Board. Not surprising therefore, the 14th Regular Meeting of the CIP will be held in Bridgetown, from June 8 to 10, 2026.
Regular Meetings of the CIP provide a high-level forum for dialogue and cooperation among national port authorities, public-private sector entities and stakeholders on emerging challenges and opportunities. Presented under the banner “Scope of AI: Reshaping Strategies for Sustainable and Secure Ports”, the meeting in Barbados will focus on issues relating to port innovation, sustainability, security and operational efficiency.
Secure sustainable seaports
The CIP was created to promote and support development of competitive, secure, sustainable and inclusive ports in the Americas. Driven by the active involvement of local private sector, the CIP’s work is guided by four specific mandates: policy dialogue; capacity building; technical assistance; and cooperation with the private sector.
Programmes generated by these mandates and organised in six priority areas are delivered by six technical advisory groups include:
1. Logistics, innovation and competitiveness
2. Port protection and security
3. Waterways, inland and cruise ports
4. Sustainable port management and environmental protection
5. Public policy, legislation and regulation
6. Port-city relations, social responsibility and gender equality
In addition to electing a new CIP Executive Board, the 14th Regular Meeting of the CIP will also approve a new plan of action for the next three years. This plan of action will guide regional cooperation, technical assistance and policy priorities in the port sector.