South American trade body in offing

The proactive move, led by Dr Jose M. Apolo, of the legal firm Apolo & Associates and legal advisor to Ecuador’s private ports body ASOTEP, is to help the industry to defend and advance its collective interests as the region’s ports internationalise.

The move is being interpreted as a sign of the industry preparing to deal with a more globalised and competitive market and acknowledged that sometimes cooperation needs to be supplemented by cooperation.

Dr Apolo rejected the idea that private property was at risk but said in interviews that the network or association “was to harmonise the laws to defend the private sector in the port industry”.

He went on to say there was a tension between the needs and interests of the government and the private sector in how ports were run and the association would concern itself with defending the latter.

Membership is open to any private sector port company South of the Rio Grande, he added, meaning any port in Mexico and south is eligible for membership.