Barcelona, an international meeting point for the logistics sector with the latest trends

The city of Barcelona is among the main technological cities, since it has almost 41,000 jobs related to the technology sector, according to the report. Tech Cities: The Global Intersection of Talent and Real Estate and is the second destination in Europe—the first being Berlin—for establishing a startup, as reflected in the Acción report. In this context, it cannot be denied that, today, Barcelona is an international destination for talent, attracting investment, and its commitment to entrepreneurship. But, at the same time, it is also a leader in the logistics sector.

Catalonia and Barcelona's unique infrastructures geographically position them as a bridge between continents—such as Africa, China, and America—and are also a gateway to Europe. Specifically, the logistics sector in Catalonia contributes around 14% of GDP, employs nearly 170,000 people, and has an ecosystem of 63,500 companies. In other words, it is a vital sector for the country's economy.

In this context, the Barcelona Free Trade Zone Consortium (CZFB) is organizing, once again this year, the next edition of the International Logistics Fair (SIL), one of the leading international trade fairs in the logistics, transport, intralogistics and logistics sectors. supply chain, which will be held from June 18 to 20 at Fira de Barcelona's Plaza España-Montjuïc exhibition center.

An international professional profile with decision-making power, ideal for business.

SIL stands out for being a cross-cutting platform that brings together the entire logistics value chain, with a highly qualified attendee profile. More than 90% of visitors are decision-making professionals: from presidents, CEOs, and general managers to those responsible for innovation or digital transformation, who attend to generate opportunities, close deals, and lead change. Through the SIL Virtual AI Platform (SILvIA), the SIL virtual platform, generated with artificial intelligence, a better experience is offered to both participating companies and professionals attending the event, allowing them to connect with those profiles that are most relevant to them or to inform them of the SIL Knowledge sessions that are being held.

Furthermore, around 30% of exhibiting companies are international, coming from countries such as Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, the United States, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Peru, and Chile, among many others. The high international representation presents a unique opportunity for industry professionals to connect with international partners and expand their business horizons. The previous edition, with more than 650 participating companies from across the logistics chain, confirms the event as a must-attend event.

B2B Meetings

Furthermore, SIL 2025 organizes B2B Meetings, B2B encounters between visitors and exhibitors based on the interests expressed by fair participants during the registration process. However, it also accommodates emerging and innovative companies in the sector in different spaces such as the Startup Meeting Area—the Logistics 4.0 Incubator stand—so they can showcase their innovative solutions applied to logistics.

The general director of CZFB and SIL, Blanca Sorigué, emphasizes that "being present at SIL allows for the creation of high-level synergies, since 90% of the attending profiles hold management positions in their organizations." In just three days, she adds, "SIL provides a valuable insight into the latest developments in the sector and allows for the establishment of collaborations between companies, which have a direct impact on the progress of this industry."

For his part, Pere Navarro, the State's special delegate to the CZFB and president of SIL, stated that he feels "very proud to promote a strategic international event for the progress of the logistics industry, which will once again position the city of Barcelona as the epicenter of global logistics." He emphasized that SIL is "a meeting point where the main players in the sector come together to continue shaping the keys to the logistics of the future."

Promoting employment, the main challenge for the future of logistics

At the same time, the logistics sector is experiencing a widespread talent shortage, which is not defined by profiles, categories, subsectors, or geographies. In fact, the SIL has developed the 15th Logistics Circle Barometer 2025, which provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges and needs of companies in the logistics sector.

The study involved more than 1,000 professionals holding management positions in companies in the sector, and one of the main conclusions is that 60% of companies struggle to attract and retain logistics talent. To address this challenge, the SIL has launched the Job Market Place, a space for recruiting and hiring new profiles in collaboration with Barcelona Activa. This space allows companies to meet with candidates who meet their professional requirements to strengthen their workforces and boost employment.