The Port of Long Beach was represented this week at the 2026 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba was invited to join global leaders from government, business and industry to discuss the future of trade, supply chains and economic resilience.

“This is my first time attending the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting, and I see it as a valuable opportunity to engage directly with leaders who are shaping global policy and markets,” said Hacegaba, who also serves as president of the California Association of Port Authorities. “Ports sit at the intersection of trade, geopolitics, climate and technology, making Davos a unique forum to discuss how supply chains can remain resilient, sustainable and secure in a rapidly changing world.”

Hacegaba noted that central to the annual meeting’s impact is the neutral and trusted forum. “The value of the World Economic Forum is less about geography and more about who is in the room and the willingness to engage across borders,” he said. “That kind of candid dialogue remains essential at a time of heightened global uncertainty.”

Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba in interviewed by Bloomberg TV’s Jonathan Ferro, Lisa Abramowicz and Annmarie Hordern at the 2026 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

“Engaging with leaders from around the world makes us better partners as the Port of Long Beach works to become the Port of the Future,” said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna. “Noel’s presence at the World Economic Forum ensures the nation’s largest gateway for trans-Pacific trade has a voice in global conversations directly affecting jobs and the goods movement industry.”

During the forum, Hacegaba met with the world’s leading transportation and supply chain companies, addressing the impacts of evolving trade policy including the effects of tariffs on cargo flows. “Trade policy changes tend to introduce uncertainty,” he said. “For the Port of Long Beach, that can result in shifts in cargo timing, sourcing strategies and routing decisions, often creating short-term volatility even when long-term demand remains strong.”

Hacegaba was the only representative of a U.S. seaport at the summit. Among various meetings with political and global business and port leaders, Hacegaba participated in roundtable discussions with Cabinet-level officials from the United States, including Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and ministers from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. He also met with CEOs from the world’s largest shipping, logistics and transportation companies and attended sessions featuring business leaders, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. He also attended President Donald Trump’s address and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s session on California.
Source: Port of Long Beach