Consejo Empresarial Logístico - COEL

What Consejo Empresarial Logístico - COEL does

Consejo Empresarial Logístico (COEL) is a Panamanian non-profit business council (gremial) that represents the country's logistics sector. Founded in 2012 and legally constituted in 2013, it is composed of 23 member organizations spanning maritime, cargo, transport, customs brokerage, free zones, and logistics technology. Its core function is industry representation and convening: advocating before Panamanian regulators, coordinating public policy positions across its membership, and serving as the formal interlocutor between the private logistics sector and the state under Executive Decree 27914-A, which grants it consultative standing on logistics policy.

The council's business model is funded through three streams: annual membership dues from its 23 member organizations, event and registration fees, and corporate sponsorships tied primarily to its flagship congress. COEL operates with a lean team of 5 employees and does not maintain proprietary technology, software platforms, or commercial product lines. Its value proposition is delivered through advocacy outputs, knowledge programs, and access to international partners including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Georgia Tech, INCAE Business School, WISTA, and OMCPL, which provide research, training, and regional network reach.

COEL does not sell to end customers or operate in a technology market. Its competitive position is grounded in regulatory standing (Executive Decree 27914-A), the breadth of its multi-subsector membership base, and its institutional relationships with multilateral and academic partners. Recent strategic activity includes organizing ENLOG 2026 as a regional logistics congress, signing an MOU with WISTA on women-in-logistics, launching an executive education program with INCAE, and installing a new 2026-2027 board under Danilo A. Bustamante C. The organization functions as institutional infrastructure for Panama's logistics industry rather than as a scalable commercial enterprise.

Name

Consejo Empresarial Logístico - COEL

Legal name

Consejo Empresarial Logístico (COEL)

Website

https://coelpanama.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

COEL is a Panamanian non-profit logistics industry council founded in 2012, representing 23 member organizations across maritime, cargo, transport, customs, and free zones. It advocates for the sector under Executive Decree 27914-A and convenes members through events, training, and international partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Industry Association

NAICS

Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (4251)

akta.pro primary industry

Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocean Freight Brokerage (FCL/LCL) (TLADAMAF), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL)

Keywords

• Logistics industry council
• Trade association services
• Public-private advocacy
• Logistics events
• Supply chain education

Headquarters

HQ city

Panama City

HQ country

Panama

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues and affiliation fees: COEL generates revenue through affiliation and membership fees paid by its 23 member organizations (gremios), which include cargo agencies, maritime associations, transport chambers, and business groups across Panama's logistics sector.
2. Event fees and conference registration: COEL organizes paid events including breakfast sessions, forums, congresses, and webinars. Fees range from B/.25 to B/.35 for breakfast forums, B/.100 for general public events, B/.214 for specialized congresses, and B/.60 for member-priced forums.
3. Sponsorships and event patronage: COEL generates revenue through event sponsorships, where member organizations and partners sponsor breakfast events, cocktail receptions, and congresses, gaining visibility, recognition, and networking exposure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

COEL is a non-profit business council (consejo gremial) that integrates 23 logistics-related member organizations in Panama, spanning maritime, cargo, land transport, air freight, customs, free zones, technology, and industrial sectors. Its core activities are public-private policy advocacy, knowledge-sharing events and forums, educational programs in partnership with academic institutions, and representation in the government's official Consultative Council (Decreto Ejecutivo 27914-A). COEL does not sell commercial products but operates as a convening body that drives Panama's multimodal logistics strategy.

Product overview

COEL (Consejo Empresarial Logístico) is a business council representing Panama's logistics industry, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of industry events and forums (including the Foro Mujer Logística, international congresses, and the Maritime Convention of the Americas), educational programs (Executive Master in Operations and Supply Chain with INCAE Business School), and publications (Revista Conexión de COEL). COEL serves as a coordinating body for 23 logistics-related guilds and associations, facilitating public-private dialogue and advocating for the development of Panama's multimodal logistics services platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Congreso Especializado: Comercio Internacional de Bienes Specialized congress on international trade of goods covering challenges, strategies, trends, and technology, held as part of Expologística 2026 with special COEL member pricing.
• Foro Mujer Logística Annual forum organized to promote female talent and leadership in the logistics sector, featuring networking and recognition of women's contributions.
• Convención Marítima de las Américas (MCA 2026) High-level maritime convention in Panama designed to generate concrete business opportunities, promote innovation, and strengthen strategic alliances in the maritime sector.
• Executive Master in Operations and Supply Chain Program Executive education program co-developed with INCAE Business School designed to train operations and supply chain leaders, with 20 full IFARHU-funded scholarships available exclusively for COEL member organizations.
• Revista Conexión de COEL Digital magazine published by COEL on the Issuu platform covering logistics industry news, member highlights, and sector developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2015, COEL has had four representatives (maritime, transport, cargo, air) seated in the government's official Consultative Council (Decreto Ejecutivo 27914-A), formally linking the private sector to national logistics governance.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WISTA PanamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOEL and WISTA Panama signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing their shared commitment to cooperate actively in knowledge exchange, competitiveness, and sustainable development of Panama's logistics platform. The alliance aims to strengthen the sector through joint initiatives and shared expertise.
• Georgia Tech PanamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Tech Panama is a key strategic ally in COEL's research and analysis initiatives. Together they organized sessions on logistics cost optimization and visibility as part of the ENLOG (Estudio Nacional de Logistica) 2026, which aims to diagnose Panama's logistics system through participation from companies across the supply chain.
• SENACYT (Secretaria Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnologia e Innovacion)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSENACYT supports the ENLOG 2026 study led by Georgia Tech Panama in alliance with COEL. SENACYT's involvement provides scientific and innovation credibility to the national logistics indicators update initiative.
• INCAE Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOEL and INCAE Business School co-developed the Executive Master in Operations and Supply Chain program. COEL announced the opening of applications for 20 full scholarships (100%) funded by IFARHU, exclusively for COEL members. The program aims to train leaders who will strengthen Panama's and the region's logistics competitiveness.
• IFARHU (Instituto de Formacion Aeronautica y Recursos Humanos)coreOthersIFARHU is providing 20 full scholarships (100%) for COEL members to attend the Executive Master in Operations and Supply Chain program offered by INCAE Business School in partnership with COEL. Applications were open from July 20 to August 14.
• Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID / IDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Inter-American Development Bank collaborated directly with COEL during 2012-2013 to develop the National Strategic Logistics Plan (PENLOG), which in 2016 resulted in an Action Plan from the Secretariat of Logistics and Competitiveness Affairs of the Presidency of the Republic.
• Georgia Tech PanamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorgia Tech Panama participated as a panelist in the 'Oportunidades en la Cadena de Suministro Nacional' forum organized by COEL, contributing research expertise on logistics efficiency alongside Panamanian industry leaders and government officials.
• Pier 17 GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPier 17 Group sponsored the COEL Board of Directors Induction Cocktail 2026-2027, contributing to event costs in exchange for visibility among Panama's logistics industry leadership.
• MaerskminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMaersk sponsored the COEL Board of Directors Induction Cocktail 2026-2027, gaining visibility among Panama's logistics sector leaders and decision-makers.
• INCAE Business SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerINCAE Business School sponsored the COEL Board of Directors Induction Cocktail 2026-2027, reinforcing its partnership with COEL and visibility among logistics executives.
• CMP - Camara Maritima de PanamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMP is both a member and key strategic partner of COEL. COEL President Danilo A. Bustamante C. represented the council at the VII International Customs Congress, presenting on Panama as a logistics and services platform for regional value chains. CMP President Rene Gomez was also reelected (2026-2027) with COEL's congratulations.
• OMCPL - Organizacion Mundial de Ciudades y Plataformas LogisticascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMCPL organized the 7th World Forum of Cities and Logistics Platforms in Panama (October 2022) with COEL's involvement. The forum addressed green logistics, AI in supply chains, and sustainable development themes relevant to Panama's logistics strategy.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA): US trade association for customs brokers and freight forwarders with regulatory advocacy and education programs. Closely comparable because COEL's UNCAP (customs brokers) and APAC (cargo agencies) members perform equivalent functions in Panama and sit at the same customs brokerage-freight forwarding intersection.
• Singapore Logistics Association (SLA): National trade association for Singapore's logistics industry, representing freight forwarders, warehousing, and 3PLs. Comparable function as a unified sector voice in a major logistics hub — a model COEL aims to replicate for Panama.
• Evofenedex: Dutch logistics and freight trade association representing exporters, importers, and logistics service providers. Similar model: industry council for logistics-adjacent businesses, with government advocacy and educational programming. A strong parallel for COEL's CANATRACA/SICACHI trucking sector.
• British International Freight Association (BIFA): UK trade body for freight forwarding and logistics services companies. Comparable in advocacy, training, events, and membership model for forwarding/broking companies. Operates in a mature, well-regulated market analogous to COEL's regulatory role in Panama.

Broad incumbents

• Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP): Global professional association for supply chain management, focused on education, research, and networking. Compares to COEL's INCAE/Georgia Tech-anchored education and ENLOG research programs, though more global and education-led.
• FIATA — International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations: Global umbrella for national freight forwarder associations, directly analogous to COEL's role of uniting national logistics gremios. Comparable governance model (national associations as members, representation in policy forums), though at global scale.

Regional players

• Cámara Nacional del Autotransporte de Carga (CANACAR): Mexico's national trucking industry chamber representing freight transport operators. Closely parallels CANATRACA and ATRACAPA (COEL's trucking members) and serves the same lobbying/advocacy function at larger scale within Mexico.
• Cámara de Industrias de Costa Rica: Costa Rica's leading manufacturing and industrial chamber, providing public-private dialogue and policy advocacy. Analogous to COEL's role as a consolidated private-sector voice to government, though cross-sector rather than logistics-specific.

Emerging players

• Hong Kong Shippers Council: Industry council representing Hong Kong shippers and logistics service users. Similar advocacy-focused council model that bridges shippers, forwarders, and policymakers in a major logistics gateway city.
• WISTA International: International network for women in maritime and logistics trading. COEL has a formal MoU with the Panama chapter (WISTA Panama). Comparable as a logistics-specific association, though narrower in demographic focus and global in reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChkiJ-XNO3n71V95LLBsQVA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coelpty

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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