From graduations to international trade and transport marathons, FIATA members carry on

ETHIOPIA, EFFSAA

The Ethiopian Freight Forwarders and Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA) achieved one of its greatest accomplishments in warmly conducting the graduation ceremony of FIATA Diploma trainees. This colourful programme, which was held in April 2021, marked highest number of graduates in EFFSAA’s history. A total of 158 graduates earned their diploma, with 80 amongst them from a Young Logisticians Training Programme, a special initiative supported financially by GIZ. High-level government officials, members of EFFSAA, trainers, guests and the media attended the ceremony. Salahadin Khalifa, former EFFSAA President and the current Vice Chair of RAME, delivered the closing remarks on behalf of FIATA.

GERMANY, DSLV

On 6 May 2021, the German Freight Forwarding and Logistics Association (DSLV) hosted a virtual forum with around 800 visitors entitled 'Platform Economy – Forwarding Companies of the Future' at this year’s leading ‘transport logistic’ trade fair. The conclusion reached by the expert panel: Digital platforms promote market transparency and can help increase the efficiency of logistics processes in selected logistics sub-markets. However, they will not dominate the entire logistics market.

HONG KONG, HAFFA

At its 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Hong Kong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics (HAFFA) elected Gary Lau, Jet-Speed Air Cargo Forwarders (HK) Limited, as its Chair for the 2021-2023 term. The AGM took place on 27 April and was held virtually, both in the interests of safety and to fully comply with prevailing COVID-19 regulations. Ordinary members voted on resolutions by proxy, and also elected the association’s new  Executive Committee online on 22 April 2021. Read the full media release.

IRAN, TLFI

The Transportation and Logistics Federation of Iran (TLFI) was established on 29 November 2015, according to
a law on the 'Continuous Improvement of the Business Environment of Iran' by the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. As a super eminent institution, all Iranian national associations
involved in international transport industry have been required by the law to become members of the TLFI. Therefore, the members of this federation are associations in the field of logistics, international road, air, marine and rail cargo transportation, as well as passenger transportation.

TLFI provides its members with various services in different fields, with educational and legal services of the greatest importance. TLFI’s legal department is in charge of handling international transportation legal claims, and the TLFI Training Centre is in charge of holding various advanced training courses for Iranian logistics operators and
freight forwarders. TLFI seeks 'to promote the logistics and transport industry in Iran and the region', and since becoming a FIATA Association Member in 2021, it has opened up new horizons for TLFI to achieve this objective.

NORWAY, NHO

Cut 50% of CO2 emissions in Overland Transport by 2030? Look to Norway! The Norwegian government has endorsed an initiative called ‘The Green Land Transport Programme’ as a binding public-private partnership to realise the green shift in land-based commercial transport. So far, 25 business organizations are members of the programme, which will also be associated with partner companies and observers from the public sector.

The programme will assist Norwegian freight forwarders in cutting emissions, participating in technology development and building up production and infrastructure for alternative fuels (biogas, electricity for heavy goods
vehicles, and hydrogen).

PORTUGAL, APAT

APAT is proud to announce that it has joined the FIATA Logistics Institute and its highly relevant work in shaping the future of professional training for the freight forwarding industry. APAT expects to be able to deliver the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding to its members from 2022. Looking forward to a near future when everyone can all be together again, APAT is preparing its congress, which will take place in late October 2021.

ROMANIA, USER

The Freight Forwarders Association of Romania (USER) recently issued a new version of the general conditions of transport and services governing the activity of freight forwarding companies, updating them to the current state of the freight forwarding industry. The English version of these general conditions are available on USER’s website.

SWITZERLAND, SPEDLOGSWISS

The supply, logistics and transport organizations ASFL SVBL, ASTAG, GS1 Switzerland, procure.ch, Spedlogswiss, VNL Switzerland, and the Swiss Logistics Foundation have founded last March the Swiss association called Swiss Supply. The purpose of the new organization is to sustainably improve the reputation of the industry and promote all occupational profiles in logistics in Switzerland. With combined forces, existing initiatives will be strengthened, and joint activities initiated. Jörg Mathis of GS1 Switzerland is the president of the association.

SYRIA, SIFFA

SIFFA and Syrian Civil Aviation jointly sponsored and conducted a training course on air cargo security for air cargo agents operating in Syria. The course was jointly organized by the Civil Aviation and SIFFA, with the support of the regional office of the Union of Arab Exporters and Importers. SIFFA will continue its support and will conduct more training courses in future for the benefit of the industry and its members.

UKRAINE, UKRVNESHTRANS

On 12–31 May, the association ‘Ukrvneshtrans’ and Plaske held an International Marathon on Trade and Transport. The marathon was attended by speakers from Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia, Bulgaria, Lithuania and many other countries, representatives of international organizations such as FIATA, UNECE, OSJD, as well as the national associations of forwarding, transport and logistics organizations. As part of the marathon, speakers addressed
the sustainable development of cargo transportation in modern realities; IT solutions in transport logistics; supply chain management and optimization; e-commerce logistics; and work with suppliers and warehouses. They
addressed the question 'Should we enter the international market during a crisis?' and sought to teach all about new business models and business transformation.