The Círculo Logístico was dedicated to logistics managers.

More than 550 companies participated in the 17th International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition (SIL) last week in Barcelona.

The event is the only one of its kind in Spain and is claimed to be the second-biggest in Europe.

During the opening ceremony, SIL president Enrique Lacalle spoke about the "good news" associated with the logistics sector, which is on track for a 4% rise in turnover this year.

The sector, he said, ended 2014 with 720,000 workers (12,000 more than the previous year) and a 40% rise in the number of warehouses contracted by operators.

The Catalan Minister for Planning and Sustainability, Santi Vila, stressed the economic importance of the logistics sector in Catalonia and its resilience during the economic crisis. Vila recalled "the need to have the Mediterranean coastal system - with Barcelona as the forerunner, and Valencia and Tarragona following - play a key role in transport and logistics on a global scale".

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Housing Julio Gómez-Pomar said that the 2015 SIL demonstrates the importance of logistics in improving the competitiveness of companies and the Spanish economy. "We need a more comprehensive vision of logistics and intermodal freight transport," he said." Spain is a great gateway and a site where goods coming from Asia are processed and circulate towards Europe. It is therefore important to continue boosting intermodal trends."

The International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition is an annual event conceived as a meeting and knowledge crossing point for an industry as well as a bridge for business between the Mediterranean and Latin America.