FIATA
International Federation of
Freight Forwarders Associations
The global voice of freight logistics

2026 FIATA HQ Meeting Special

FIATA e-flash
8 April 2026

Highlights from the 2026 FIATA HQ Meeting!

Under the theme "Logistics in Transition: Bringing Knowledge to Action", the 2026 FIATA HQ Meeting once again brought the global freight forwarding community together in Geneva, this time with a clear shared mission: moving beyond discussion and turning insight into tangible outcomes.

Over three days, 240 participants from over 60 territories engaged in over 17 sessions spanning panels, workshops, and Coffee & Learn formats, designed to match the depth and pace of today's most pressing logistics challenges. From macroeconomic disruption and multimodal corridors to emerging technologies, e-commerce regulation, and sustainability compliance, the programme reflected the full complexity of an industry in transition. Over 36 speakers from across international organisations, governmental authorities, and the private sector brought a diversity of perspectives that sparked some of the most substantive conversations the meeting has seen.

FIATA is deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to making this event a success, attendees, speakers, moderators, exhibitors, and FIATA Partners and Event Partners alike. The energy in the room, the quality of the debates, and the willingness to engage critically and constructively confirmed that the freight forwarding community is not just adapting to change, it is helping to shape it.

Thanks to the collective efforts of all involved, the FIATA HQ Meeting reached new heights, achieving an outstanding rating of 4.8 out of 5.0, an improvement of +0.5 compared to the previous edition. Congratulations to everyone!

Monday 30 March

Opening Session

The Opening Session framed the meeting's discussions against a rapidly evolving global economic and geopolitical landscape. Speakers provided insights on macroeconomic disruption, supply chain diversification, and the lasting structural shifts reshaping global trade, from the strategic importance of chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea crisis, to the reconfiguration of trade flows across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Christine Reiss, who served as the Master of Ceremonies for both the opening and closing sessions of the FIATA HQ Meeting 2026, also highlighted how FIATA has further improved the meeting format by actively incorporating feedback received from FIATA Members following previous editions.

From left to right: Dr Ganyi Zhang, Research Expert, HHLA Next; Ms Antonella Teodoro, Senior Consultant, MDS Transmodal; Dr Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General; and Mr Fabrizio Quirighetti, CIO & Head of Multi-Asset, DECALIA SA.

Press Conference: Chokepoints of Global Trade: Maritime Security, Geopolitics and Economic Consequences

The press conference brought together senior leadership to examine the growing fragility of global supply chains in the face of geopolitical tensions and maritime disruption.

The session featured Prof Dr Thomas Sim, FIATA President; Mr Jens Roemer, FIATA Senior Vice-President and Dr Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General, who jointly assessed the impact of critical maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz on global trade flows. Drawing on recent data, they highlighted how reduced vessel traffic in the region had affected not only maritime transport but also air cargo movements, with ripple effects across international logistics networks.

The discussion also covered FIATA’s Legal & Insurance Briefing addressing the contractual and insurance implications of the Middle East security situation, alongside reflections on how freight forwarders are adapting operations in response to disruption. Particular attention was given to the role of multimodal connectivity, with rail, road and air routes helping to maintain continuity in global trade when key sea lanes are under pressure.

From left to right: Prof Dr Thomas Sim, FIATA President; Mr Jens Roemer, FIATA Senior Vice-President; Dr Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General; and Ms Géraldine Savary, Executive Director of the Swiss Press Club.

Click here to view the Press Conference!

Driving Competitiveness of Multimodal Corridors

This session examined practical ways to strengthen the efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness of trade corridors across multimodal transport. Drawing on real operational experience, participants explored both progress and persistent challenges such as regulatory fragmentation to route unpredictability. The discussions fed directly into the development of FIATA's Corridor Handbook and targeted advocacy efforts to address key operational bottlenecks.

From left to right: Ms Olena Ileksiy, Chair of Organisation for Co‑operation between Railways (OSJD) Comiision on Transport Law; Ms  Tatiana Rey-Bellet, TIR & Transit at the International Road Transport Union (IRU); Mr Mark Bromley, Chair of Multimodal Transport Institute; Mr Grégory Lecomte, Head of Cetral Asia unit, Eurasia Division, Global Relationas and Cooperation Directorate OECD; and Dr Mario Apostolov, Regional Advisor at the Economic Cooperation and Trade Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Mastering Risk Management in Airfreight

Freight forwarders today face a growing web of legal, operational, and compliance risks in airfreight, and this session tackled them head on. Through two focused workshop discussions, participants explored contractual and liability considerations, including the practical application of the Montreal Convention, alongside broader risk drivers such as sanctions, tariffs, and cyber risks. The second discussion turned to safety and security, addressing dangerous goods compliance, data quality, and the role of AI-supported tools in identifying and managing operational risks.

From left to right: Mr Yavuz Aymelek, Cargo Hub Operations Manager at Turkish Cargo; Ms Marie Seco-Köppen, Executive Director at Cargo iQ; Mr Markus Muecke, Managing Director at Im3pact AG; Mr Andreas Wilhelm, Global Head of Security & Governmental Affairs at Kuehne + Nagel Management AG; Mr Dawit Woubishet, FIATA Airfreight Institute (AFI) Chair; Ms Andrea Tang, FIATA Legal Services Director; Dr Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General; and Mr Laurent Chassot, Partner Aerospace at HFW.

FIATA Working Group Meetings

Rounding off the first day, the FIATA Working Groups for Sea, Road, and Rail each convened in separate sessions to review progress, address sector-specific challenges, and align on priorities and next steps in line with FIATA's global strategy.

Tuesday 31 March

Coffee & Learn - Know your FIATA: Understanding FIATA Governance and Engagement

The second day started with a Coffee & Learn session that offered participants an accessible introduction to how FIATA operates, from its governance structure and decision-making processes to the practical ways members can actively contribute to shaping the organisation's priorities and direction.

Building Effective Digital Learning

Quality digital learning was at the heart of this session, which explored what it truly means for training providers to move programmes online. Participants examined the key steps involved in digitalising education and how FIATA's Minimum Standards can be effectively applied in a digital environment.

Mr Alperen Güler, FIATA Logistics Institute (FLI) Chair.

Cross-Border Action Against Illicit Trade

Keeping supply chains secure was the focus of this session, which explored how freight forwarders can play an active role in preventing illicit trade through cross-border cooperation. Participants examined practical measures, partnerships with authorities, and concrete approaches to strengthening supply chain security.

From left to right: Dr Piotr Stryszowski, Head of Unit, OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate; Mr Niels Beuck, FIATA Advisory Body on Safety and SEcurity Chair; Mr Andreas Wilhelm, Global Head of Security & Governmental Affairs, Kuehne + Nagel Management AG; and Mr Gautier Huysentruyt, Global Product Manager, SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA.

Coffee & Learn - eFBL User Clinic: Practical Demo, Member Support and Insurance Insights

This hands-on session walked existing and potential eFBL users through a live demonstration of the tool and its practical application in day-to-day operations. Building on the newly released Practical Guide to the electronic FIATA Multimodal Bill of Lading (eFBL), it also helped FIATA Association Members understand how to promote the eFBL among their Members, while introducing the insured eFBL and its key liability insurance benefits.

Turning Sustainable Compliance into Resilience

With sustainability requirements evolving rapidly, this examined how freight forwarders can turn compliance into a strategic advantage. Participants explored the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and its financial implications, while also addressing the broader global decarbonisation challenge, particularly in light of the IMO's postponement of harmonised binding measures. The discussion focused on practical capacity building strategies to help businesses adapt in an increasingly uncertain regulatory environment.

From left to right: Ms Anna Larsson, Director Global Communications & General Manager Europe, World Shipping Council; Mr Jan-Joost Den Brinker, Vice-President of the International Association for the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (IACBAM) and Ms Oriane Minger, Carbon Finance Manager at SCB Environmental Markets SA.

FIATA Regional Committee Meetings: Turning Global Strategy into Regional Action

Closing out the second day, the four FIATA Regional Committees, Africa & Middle East, Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, convened in a joint plenary before breaking out into regional discussions. Each region worked to translate FIATA's global strategic priorities into concrete local action, reporting back to the plenary to foster shared learning and a coherent global approach. The sessions also saw the introduction of a new regional matrix, designed to assess each region's status, needs, and key performance indicators, a significant step towards the motto that has always guided FIATA's work: think global, act local.

Please note the following dates for the upcoming FIATA Regional Field Meetings:

Wednesday 1 April

Unlocking Seamless Multimodal Trade in the Digital Age: the new NCD Convention

Opening the final day, this session explored how the United Nations' Negotiable Cargo Documents (NCD) Convention is enabling more seamless, secure, and efficient multimodal trade through a modern legal framework for negotiable cargo documents, including the FBL and eFBL. Drawing on real-world experience and emerging use cases across key corridors, participants examined how NCDs can enhance flexibility in trade finance, support operations in times of disruption, and strengthen freight forwarders' value proposition with shippers.

From left to right: Mr Milot Ahma, Principal Counsel – Legal Transition at the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); Ms Alison Wixley, Senior Claims Executive at TT Club; Mr James Hookham, Secretary General and Director of the Global Shippers Forum (GSF); and Ms Andrea Tang, FIATA Legal Services Director.

De Minimis and E-Commerce in Practice: What Freight Forwarders Need to Know

With e-commerce reshaping the handling of shipments worldwide, this workshop examined how evolving de minimis regimes and regulatory approaches are impacting freight forwarders in practice. Participants explored key challenges around data requirements, changing customs processes, and compliance expectations, while gaining practical insights on maintaining efficient e-commerce flows. The discussion also highlighted FIATA's ongoing work at the WCO to ensure the freight forwarding perspective is reflected in emerging international frameworks.

From left to right: Mr Nicolas Collart, Chief Trade Operations & Compliance Officer at Customs Support Group; Mr Javier Garcia, Customs, Facilitation and Standards Programme Manager at the Universal Postal Union (UPU); and Ms Paula Baena, Global Policy Lead – Customs at the International Chamber of Commerce.

Coffee & Learn – Leveraging the Value of Data

In a world where trade continues to flow despite disruption, this interactive discussion explored how freight forwarders can turn data into a genuine strategic advantage. Participants examined how shipping line behaviour, capacity deployment, and route adjustments can provide early signals of shifting trade dynamics, and how these insights can help forwarders anticipate change, strengthen resilience, and deliver greater value to their customers.

Ms Antonella Teodoro, Senior Consultant at MDS Transmodal.

Unlocking Value with Emerging Technologies in Freight Forwarding

AI, automation, and data-driven solutions are no longer concepts for the future, they are reshaping freight forwarding today. Through practical use cases, participants explored how emerging technologies are being applied across the logistics ecosystem, from customs processes and product classification to data exchange and interoperability. The discussion also addressed the growing regulatory expectations around data accuracy and traceability, and how forwarders can move beyond digitalisation as a concept to unlock tangible, measurable value in their daily operations.

From left to right: Mr Pierre-Antoine Champin, Principal Data Strategist at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C); Mr Julio Cantú, Co-Founder and CEO of ADUANAPP; Ms Carolynn Bernier, Computer Engineer and Researcher at the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA); Mr Yann Barbarroux, CEO and Founder of Otonomi; Mr Vitaly Smilianets, Founder and CEO of AWERY Aviation Software; and Dr Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General.

Mastering Public Speaking & Competition Award Ceremony

Participants had the opportunity to sharpen their communication skills in an interactive public speaking workshop led by an industry professional, before coming together to celebrate the achievements of the winners of the Global Sustainability Supply Chain Student Competition (GS3).

Ms Kristy Guo, Founder and Owner of Signature Global Network.

Global Sustainability Supply Chain Student Competition (GS3) Award Ceremony.

Closing Session

The Closing Session brought the 2026 FIATA HQ Meeting to an end, reflecting on the key insights gathered across three days, recognising the contributions of all involved, and outlining next steps for collaboration and action across the sector. The session also featured a fireside chat, offering participants a closer and more personal look at FIATA's new President.

A sincere thank you to all our partners and supporters who helped make this meeting possible.

Our Partners:

  • Platinum: Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority
  • Gold: CargoWise
  • Bronze: AON World Network, the newest FIATA Partner

Event Partners:

  • République et Canton de Genève
  • Geneva Tourism & Conventions Foundation
  • Turkish Airlines

Exhibitors:

  • China International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFA)
  • Federazione Nazionale delle Imprese di Spedizioni Internazionali (FEDESPEDI)
  • Otonomi
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Universal Postal Union (UPU)

Relive Key Moments of the 2026 FIATA HQ Meeting

Watch the Highlights

Upcoming FIATA Events