2024 FIATA-RAP Field Meeting Special Coverage!

🌏2024 FIATA-RAP Field Meeting in Bali Marks a New Era in FIATA Regional Engagement

The 2024 FIATA-Region Asia-Pacific (RAP) Field Meeting was held in Bali, Indonesia, on 11-12 July. The event convened over 200 delegates from 18 territories under the theme "Sustainable Logistics: Prioritizing Digital Transformation & Human Capacities". With the Asia-Pacific economy  evolving rapidly, logistics are at the forefront of addressing supply chain disruptions. The event commenced with a prestigious opening session featuring notable contribution from the Ministry of Transport, Budi Karya Sumadi, FIATA President, Turgut Erkeskin, and a special address by the Vice President of Indonesia, K.H. Ma'ruf Amin, accompanied by Balinese cultural highlights.

Following this, a panel discussion focused on the future of sustainable logistics which included prominent Indonesian CEOs from various industries together with the FIATA Director General. The discussion provided insights into the journey towards logistics digitalisation, emphasised the importance of resilient supply chains amidst geopolitical challenges, and advocated for harmonised international regulations. Additionally, FIATA encouraged the adoption of the FIATA Digital Bill of Lading (eFBL) as a tool to improve efficiency, sustainability and reduce costs, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

💻FIATA special session with UNESCAP addresses Connectivity Challenges in the Region

The FIATA Regional Meeting introduced an innovative programme structure designed to enhance interaction with Association Members and to provide valuable insights into the regional freight forwarding industry. This year’s FIATA Special Session with United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) as a distinguished guest and speaker, provided the opportunity to look at the regional challenges in land and maritime connectivity.

Several FIATA RAP Association Members were given the opportunity to present their solutions and challenges in freight mobility and answer the questions of the audience. The discussions underscored the emergence of several local corridors and highlighted common issues, including dry ports, multimodal transport costs and staff shortages. FIATA RAP Vice Chair, Mr Minh Nguyen from the Vietnam Logistics Association (VLA) suggested that the FIATA RAP Associations should identify and develop a common strategic corridor for the region under FIATA auspices. 

The discussions and insights from the FIATA-UNESCAP Special Session provided a solid base for achieving enhanced connectivity through collaborative efforts. Through enhanced regional cooperation, investment in infrastructure and technology, capacity building, and policy harmonisation, the region can create a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient logistics network.

FIATA would like to thank all the Association Members that volunteered to present and share their experience.

🤝FIATA’s Innovative High-Level Meeting Achieves Notable Success

An innovation of this 2024 FIATA-RAP Field Meeting was without a doubt the organisation of a closed meeting led by the FIATA President with the Presidents of all FIATA RAP Association Members. This gathering cultivated open communication, shared valuable insights, and addressed significant issues impacting the freight forwarding industry. The meeting brought together a group of distinguished leaders from regional associations, each contributing unique perspectives and expertise under the guidance of the FIATA President. This new format received highly positive feedback from all participants, and will be incorporated into future events to further promote dialogue and foster collaboration.

FIATA was pleased to welcome special guests from Cambodia Logistics Association and Laos International Truckers and Freight Forwarders Association, both of these are currently in discussions to join/rejoin FIATA as Association Members, as their involvement would further enrich our collective efforts and foster greater synergy within the regional and global logistics community.

📅Advancing Logistics through Collaboration in 2025

Looking ahead, the 2025 FIATA-RAP Field Meeting in New Delhi, India, promises to build on this momentum. The President of the Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI), Mr C K Govil, expressed great enthusiasm for hosting the event, eager to showcase India's rapid economic growth, strategic infrastructure initiatives, and vibrant cultural heritage. With a focus on collaboration and innovation, the New Delhi meeting aims to further advance the logistics sector in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.