On Thursday, June 11, Marseille Innovation hosted the General Assembly of the Union Maritime et Fluviale de Marseille-Fos (UMF), which brings together 300 industrial, port, and logistics companies across the region, representing more than 20,000 direct jobs. We extend our sincere thanks to Laurence Olivier, Chief Executive Officer, for her warm welcome in this venue dedicated to innovation and exchange.
This edition held particular significance, as it marked both the first General Assembly chaired by Martin Féraud, elected in 2025, and the first gathering bringing together the four founding associations of the UMF and their members.
Our sincere thanks go to Gérald Kothé, President of the Association of Shipping Agents and Consignees of Marseille-Fos (AACN); Nicolas Ganaye, President of the Comité Marseillais des Armateurs de France (CMAF); Claus Ellemann-Jensen, President of the Syndicat des Entreprises de Manutention de Marseille-Fos (SEMFOS), represented by Jakob Sidenius; and Delphine Chouin, President of the Syndicat des Transitaires Méditerranée Rhône Alpes (STMRA), who presented the initiatives led by their respective associations.
Bringing together stakeholders from across the port community around a shared vision is a real strength and reflects a collective commitment to shaping the future of our ecosystem. We would like to thank all members in attendance for contributing to this valuable moment of exchange and dialogue.
In this same spirit, we launched the “Experts Club,” a new initiative led by the UMF. Its ambition is to create a trusted network of experts, recommended by members, across a range of fields (legal, real estate, tax, HR, etc.), providing privileged access to recognized and peer-endorsed expertise. The port community creates value when it comes together, shares, and acts collectively.
Beyond our local port community, the UMF also contributes at the national level through the Union Maritime et Portuaire de France (UMPF), chaired by Francis Grimaud. The UMPF brings together 15 French port unions around a shared objective: strengthening the competitiveness of our ports while fostering national solidarity in support of the maritime and logistics sector. Now more than ever, our regions are moving forward together to meet the economic and geopolitical challenges ahead.
This collective momentum was also reflected in the presence and contributions of our commissions and partners within the port community, including:
The UMF Training Commission, chaired by Sébastien Le Floch
The SMTRA Customs Commission, chaired by Stéphane Dalia
The Liquid Bulk Commission, chaired by Jérôme Dumas
Marseille Gyptis International (MGI), represented by Maxence Eyraud, Chairman of the Executive Board
We thank them all for their commitment and their contribution to the development of our port community.
Our warm thanks also go to Hervé Martel, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille-Fos (GPMM), and Jean-Luc Chauvin, President of the Aix Marseille Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIAMP), for their remarks alongside Martin Féraud, highlighting both the resilience and positive outlook of the port community in a complex geopolitical context, as well as the shared ambition to enhance its performance and attractiveness.
The journey continues, driven by the commitment of all.