Every year, IFN brings its global membership of freight forwarders and logistics companies together for a four-day freight networking conference built around face-to-face meetings, cargo exchange sessions, and relationship building no digital tool can replicate. The IFN annual logistics conference is the centrepiece of the network — and the single most impactful investment an independent freight forwarder or logistics company can make in their international business.
Countries at Our Logistics Conference
Freight Forwarder Companies
Freight Conference Programme
Every Year
Digital tools have transformed how freight forwarders communicate. Quotes are automated. Tracking is real-time. Messages are instant. But one thing technology has never been able to replace is what happens when two logistics professionals sit across a table at a freight networking conference, share a meal, and decide they trust each other enough to route cargo.
That is what the IFN annual freight networking conference creates every year — a working logistics conference built entirely around cargo exchange and partnership building.
Members who attend our freight conference consistently report:
The IFN annual freight and logistics conference is not a passive event. It is a working freight networking conference — designed for meetings, introductions, and logistics business development from start to finish.
The core of every IFN freight networking conference. Before the logistics conference, members request meetings with specific network partners — based on trade lane interests, service specialisations, and geographic coverage. IFN coordinates a structured meeting schedule so every delegate has a full programme of targeted freight and logistics business discussions with the most relevant partners for their business.
Dedicated logistics conference sessions for members to present their capabilities, trade lane strengths, and cargo opportunities to the broader freight network. This is where forwarders discover logistics partners they didn't know they needed — and where relationships that generate years of consistent cargo exchange begin.
IFN's annual gala dinner at the freight conference recognises outstanding member companies through the IFN Founder Partnership Awards — celebrating the freight forwarders and logistics companies who have demonstrated exceptional collaboration, professionalism, and contribution to the global network community. The gala night is one of the most anticipated events of the four-day logistics conference programme.
IFN freight networking conferences include structured social activities that build relationships in a relaxed environment. Dinners, excursions, and informal sessions allow freight forwarders to connect as people — not just as business contacts. The personal connections formed at IFN logistics conference social events consistently underpin the strongest long-term cargo exchange relationships in the network.
Our logistics conference programme sessions cover current topics in global freight forwarding — market trends, rate levels, capacity, regulatory developments, technology in logistics, and the future of independent freight networks. Practical freight and logistics insights members can apply directly to their operations.
IFN Global Connect 2026
The most recent IFN freight networking conference — IFN Global Connect 2026 — was held at Pullman Pattaya Hotel G, Thailand. Delegates from across the IFN global membership attended this four-day logistics conference for pre-scheduled B2B freight meetings, a plenary session, the IFN Founder Partnership Awards gala night, and a Pattaya Floating Market cultural tour.
Gold sponsors at the freight conference: OTD Logistics (UAE/Philippines) and Linking Line (Turkey/Saudi Arabia). Silver sponsors: Dispatch (USA/Egypt), Speedy Active Freight (Pakistan), and Senni Logistics (Mexico).
The IFN logistics conference is exclusively for active IFN network members. Attendance is not open to the general public or non-members — ensuring every conversation at our freight conference is with a vetted, professional logistics partner who has passed IFN's membership review.
IFN's membership rules state that attendance at the Annual General Meeting (held during the freight conference) is mandatory. Failure to attend two consecutive years without valid reason may result in membership review — because the freight networking conference is where the network's logistics business relationships are built and maintained.
Freight conference attendees include senior management and business development leaders from:
Freight conference eligibility is included with all IFN membership plans — Premium ($750/year) and Gold ($1,250/year). To attend this logistics conference, you must be an active IFN member. If you are not yet a member:
Submit your membership application through the IFN website to attend the freight conference.
Pass IFN's membership review process (typically a few business days) to attend the logistics conference.
Freight conference eligibility is included with your membership activation.
Register for the next IFN Global Connect freight and logistics conference through the member portal.
"The IFN freight networking conference is where we do more business in four days than most logistics networks deliver in a year. The one-to-one meeting format means every conversation is purposeful — and the relationships built at this freight conference drive cargo for the next 12 months." — IFN Member, Europe
"We had never met most of our IFN partners in person before the logistics conference. After four days together at the freight conference, we had a completely different level of trust. That changed how much business we were willing to route to each other." — IFN Member, Asia-Pacific
"The social programme is what makes IFN different from other freight and logistics conferences. It's not just meetings — it's genuinely getting to know people. Those personal connections are what make the business relationships last." — IFN Member, Middle East
Everything you need to know about our annual freight and logistics conference
The IFN freight networking conference is an annual four-day in-person logistics conference exclusively for IFN network members. It brings together 235+ independent freight forwarders and logistics companies from 93+ countries for pre-scheduled one-to-one freight meetings, plenary sessions, a gala night with the IFN Founder Partnership Awards, and cultural activities. The logistics conference is the centrepiece of the IFN network calendar — where face-to-face relationships are built that drive cargo exchange throughout the year.
The IFN annual freight conference location changes each year. IFN Global Connect 2026 was held at Pullman Pattaya Hotel G in Pattaya, Thailand. The next IFN freight networking conference — IFN Global Connect 2027 — will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 23 to 26 May 2027. Learn more about the 2027 logistics conference in Bangkok.
Attendance at the Annual General Meeting held during the IFN freight networking conference is expected of all active IFN members. IFN's rules state that failure to attend two consecutive Annual General Meetings without valid reason may result in membership review. Logistics conference attendance is one of IFN's core participation requirements — because the freight relationships built there are fundamental to the network's value for all members.
Freight conference eligibility is included with all IFN membership tiers. Active members can register through the IFN member portal at app.ifnfamily.com. If you are not yet a member, apply for membership first at the IFN membership application page — freight and logistics conference eligibility activates immediately upon membership approval.
No. The IFN freight networking conference is exclusively for active IFN network members. This exclusivity is intentional — it ensures every delegate at our logistics conference is a vetted, professional freight partner who has passed IFN's membership review process, making every freight conference interaction more valuable and trustworthy.
The IFN freight conference is where independent freight forwarders build the logistics partnerships that define their international business for years. Four days. 93+ countries. Real cargo relationships. To attend this logistics conference, you need active IFN membership.
IFN Global Connect 2027 is coming to Bangkok, Thailand — 23 to 26 May 2027.
