SHANGHAI, Oct. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from english.shanghai.gov.cn
 
The video for IBLAC. [Video/International Services Shanghai]
The 37th International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai is set to be held in Shanghai on Oct 12.
Shanghai Port became the first in the world to surpass 50 million twenty-equivalent units in annual container throughput in 2024, solidifying its position as the world's busiest container port for the 15th consecutive year.
Nearly half of this volume was handled at the Yangshan Deep-Water Port, the world's largest automated container terminal.
Few, however, know that the origins of this modern port can be traced back more than 30 years to a meeting of foreign business leaders at the International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai.
Established in 1989, the council was founded with a clear mission: to provide Shanghai's leadership with international perspectives and advice to drive economic development and deepen the city's integration with the global economy.
Its inaugural meeting brought together 12 prominent members from eight countries.
At the third meeting in 1991, Huub Crijns, then chairman of the board of Dutch company Pakhoed, raised a critical concern. He said that the shallow waters of Shanghai Port would restrict access for the new generation of container ships and bulk carriers.
His insight helped inspire the development of the Yangshan Deep-Water Port, which today stands as the cornerstone of Shanghai's status as a global shipping hub.
The evolution of IBLAC
The Yangshan Deep-Water Port is a prime example of IBLAC's tangible impact on the development of Shanghai.
Since its inauguration, IBLAC has grown from 12 members from eight countries to 46 members from 15 countries, along with 11 honorary members. Forty members have confirmed their participation in this year's meeting.
Among the current 46 members, 24 are Fortune Global 500 companies and seven are listed on the Forbes Global 2000. These companies have a combined market value exceeding $3.5 trillion and contribute more than 35 billion yuan ($4.9 billion) in annual tax revenue in Shanghai.
The members come from both developed economies such as the United States, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, and emerging markets including Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea.
Over the years, the industry representation has expanded beyond manufacturing and mining to include semiconductors, biomedicine, energy conservation, and environmental protection.
This evolution mirrors Shanghai's development transformation over the past three decades, from a traditional industrial and commercial hub into an international center for economy, finance, trade, shipping, and science and technology innovation.
The themes of the meetings, which provide a lens through which to view Shanghai's evolving priorities and strategic shifts, have also changed over the years.
In the 1990s, when the city was still primarily an industrial and commercial base, discussions focused on how to increase the added value of manufacturing, remove barriers to foreign investment, and revitalize State-owned enterprises.
With the turn of the century and Shanghai's deeper engagement with the world, the agenda shifted toward strengthening innovation, building an environmentally sustainable city, and accelerating the modern service industry.
Since the 2010s, themes have reflected the city's growing ambition to enhance soft power, develop a resilient, low-carbon city, and establish an international science and technology innovation center.
Beyond its specific proposals, IBLAC's lasting legacy may well be the culture of candid dialogue it has fostered. Members particularly value the afternoon closed-door sessions introduced in 2009. This format allows for more frank and direct conversations with the mayors following the general meeting.
This open exchange has built trust and confidence among the international business community.
As Severin Schwan, chairman of the board of directors of Roche Group and current chairman of the IBLAC, said: "We all share both commitment to Shanghai and China and a strong belief in the city's future and potential."
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
IBLAC: Three decades of global wisdom shaping Shanghai's future
Transaction Enhances MRO Scale, AOG Readiness, and Lubricants Market Leadership
ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GracoRoberts (gracoroberts.com) today announced the acquisition of Sky Mart (skymart.aero) to advance its international footprint in Latin America, leveraging the company's corporate headquarters in Miami as a gateway to the aerospace-rich Latin American region. The acquisition significantly bolsters GracoRoberts' reach into the $6.5B Latin American MRO market, scales its AOG capability, and offers its customers access to a considerable breadth of in-stock lubricants, amplifying the acquirer's already sound position as the largest, fastest, and most technically focused aerospace specialty chemicals distributor in the world.
The addition of Sky Mart to the GracoRoberts' portfolio expands its technical sales coverage throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Florida, and portions of the US, while adding an additional 42,000 square feet of fulfillment centers in Miami, FL, San Antonio, TX, and Indianapolis, IN, and offering a rich stocking position for oils, greases, and fluids. Additionally, Sky Mart customers will benefit from access to GracoRoberts' extensive breadth of adhesives, composites, paints and coatings, a robust ecommerce presence for immediate product access, and a global technical sales team. These enhancements, coupled with a mutual focus on world-class quality, will add meaningful value to both companies' customer and supplier partners.
Jason Caldwell, President and CEO of GracoRoberts, commented on the acquisition. "We are thrilled to welcome the team from Sky Mart to the GracoRoberts' family of companies. This partnership strengthens our ability to serve the global aerospace community, especially in the important Latin America and Miami markets, with an enhanced stocking position, broader product offerings, and a scalable bolt-on ecommerce presence and AOG platform for an industry that requires speed and dependability."
Juan Gregorio Robbin, Co-Founder and President of Sky Mart, also commented on the integration, and the decision to partner with GracoRoberts after four decades of family-owned operation. "At Sky Mart, our operating philosophy is simple and unwavering: stock the right products, deliver exceptional service, and get it right the first time. This guiding principle has earned us the trust of a loyal Latin and North American customer base, and by joining the GracoRoberts' family, we can deliver even more value to our customers."
Ana Maria Robbin, Co-Owner and Executive Vice President of Sky Mart, offered her perspective on the acquisition. "2025 marked Sky Mart's 40th year in a business founded by our parents – our heroes – Gregorio and Lucy Robbin. They raised us to believe in the power of a vision, endless determination, and a deep spirit of service that defines our culture today, and I see these qualities in the team at GracoRoberts. I know the Sky Mart legacy will be upheld with care and purpose."
The leaders of both companies will collaborate to deliver a seamless, customer-focused transition that preserves each organization's culture and ensures no disruption to the business.
The acquisition of Sky Mart is supported by CM Equity Partners, the private equity sponsor of GracoRoberts and long-standing partner to its Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Under the leadership of President and CEO Jason Caldwell, the GracoRoberts ELT has significantly expanded the company's global footprint and accelerated its digital growth strategy through six acquisitions over the past seven years – E.V. Roberts, Able Aerospace Adhesives, Silmid, SkyGeek, Pacific Coast Composites, and now Sky Mart – each enhancing value for its enterprise partners and the broader aerospace industry.
About GracoRoberts
Headquartered in Arlington, TX, GracoRoberts (www.gracoroberts.com) is the single largest, fastest, and most technically focused specialty chemicals distributor to serve the global aerospace market and is fully AS, ISO, and CMMC II certified. We serve the aerospace OEM, MRO, and defense segments, composites, electronics, and other advanced manufacturing industries. As a family of brands including Silmid, SkyGeek, and Pacific Coast Composites, we are authorized to distribute 3M, Airtech, Aeroshell, AkzoNobel, Eastman, Henkel, Hexcel, Huntsman, Isovolta, Momentive, PPG, Resin Formulators, Royco, Scott Bader, Sika, American Fiber & Finishing, Armite Lubricants, Arrow Solutions, B&J Rubber Products, Castrol, Chemetall, Contec, Deb Stoko, ITW Performance Polymers, Mask-Off, Master Fluid Solutions, Permabond, Reabrook Ltd, Rocol, Royal Adhesives, Socomore, and Zip-Chem, and can source thousands of other providers upon request. We differentiate by adding value: services include world-class ecommerce available through three websites (www.skygeek.com, www.silmid.com, and www.gracoroberts.com), global distribution, custom formulation, specialty packaging, vendor managed inventory, intermix and kitting services, defense logistics and compliance, export management services, and an on-staff Chemist, lab, and testing facility. GracoRoberts prides itself in delivering superior engineered materials with impeccable support to thousands of customers from more than 65 countries around the globe.
About Sky Mart
Headquartered in Miami, FL and founded in 1985 by Gregorio and Lucy Robbin with Co-Founder and President Juan Gregorio Robbin, Sky Mart (www.skymart.aero) has grown into an industry leading and well-recognized aerospace chemical, lubricant and specialty fluids stocking distributor. Sky Mart is now a second-generation Robbin family business serving thousands of customers across Latin America and North America. With over 40 years of global distribution experience, the company's philosophy is straight forward: stock the products, quote quickly, and offer fast, accurate, and on-time shipping. Today Sky Mart continues to invest in online and EDI trading platforms, and offers reliable and effective after-hours AOG service for the airline, MRO, and other aviation communities.
About CM Equity Partners
CM Equity Partners (www.cmequity.com), based in New York, NY, provides capital to the Federal services and aerospace and defense industries. For 30 years, CMEP has partnered with management teams to build enduring value by leveraging its industry knowledge, relationships, operating experience, and its corporate finance, M&A, and private equity expertise. CMEP employs an active and collaborative management approach, developing long-term strategic plans and guiding decisions on re-investment of profits to grow and broaden a company's revenue base and capabilities. CMEP's investments are structured with flexibility across a broad spectrum of the capital structure, including equity, structured equity, and mezzanine debt.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
GracoRoberts Acquires Sky Mart to Accelerate Latin American Expansion, Anchored by Miami Hub
