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

FIATA Engages with Members and Institutions on Sustainable and Digital Transport

FIATA e-flash
4 July 2025

From left to right: Mr Benjamin Perrier, Real Estate Director France/Senior Architect & Expert EMEAA, WFS; Ms Pritha Prasad, FIATA Marketing Officer; Dr Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General; Mr Yann Le Tonqueze, Managing Director WFS Academy & Training Manager EMEAA, WFS; Ms Sofia Aiche, FIATA Project Officer; Mr Laurent Bernard, Vice President Cargo and Ground Handling France, WFS; Ms Yue Wang, FIATA Events and Administration Officer; Mr Joël Davidas, Director of the Director of the Quality, Safety, Security, and Environment Department of WFS, Ramp Operations; Ms Andrea Tang, FIATA Legal Services Director; Ms Leticia Cherini, International Trade and Law Officer; and Pierre-Yves Aubin, Operations Excellence Director, WFS; and Eric Le Bars, Dangerous Goods and Environment Director, WFS.

Airfreight: FIATA Deepens Understanding of Air Cargo Handling with WFS

FIATA was in Paris from 12 to 13 June to deepen its engagement with key institutional and member partners. FIATA had the opportunity to engage directly with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), to gain an in-depth understanding of ground handling operations, regulatory developments, and the evolving role of freight forwarders in air cargo. WFS, which manages approximately 500 flights per day across France, offered FIATA a close look at its 24/7 operations, including cargo storage, handling, and aircraft loading processes at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The discussion highlighted the ongoing challenges around cargo storage capacity, particularly the critical link between available warehousing and business continuity. The visit also reaffirmed the highly manual nature of the air cargo industry, with shared ambitions between FIATA and WFS to accelerate digitalisation, including cargo tracking, data exchange, and the future use of digital trade documents, such as the digital negotiable FIATA Multimodal Transport Bill of Lading (eFBL). Discussions also took place around new European regulations similar to those adopted by the US regarding cargo screening and risk assessment, and how these would impact freight forwarders noting that this shift may present operational challenges, especially where implementation lacks clarity or consistency.

Sustainability featured prominently in the exchange. WFS shared several initiatives already underway, including the transition to electric vehicles, the use of biofuels over conventional diesel, and the construction of fully sustainable buildings. The implementation of an electric shuttle between Roissy and Orly further reflects the company’s commitment to decarbonising its operations.

FIATA also discussed WFS’ in-house training academy, which plays a vital role in preparing staff and partners for today’s operational and regulatory requirements. Ongoing work to expand training for freight forwarders was noted, reinforcing the value of collaboration on professional development.

The visit to WFS provided also an opportunity to explore ongoing collaborations between FIATA and a key industry stakeholder. In particular, the future of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards, specifically One Record, and its implementation across the logistics industry raised several questions aimed at defining a common, feasible approach. These matters will be further discussed between WFS and FIATA in the coming months as part of their institutional collaboration.

FIATA thanks the WFS team for their openness and operational insight. The visit served as a valuable reminder of the interconnected responsibilities across the air cargo chain and the shared commitment to safe, efficient, and sustainable logistics. A special thanks also goes to Carlo Paravani, President of Euro Cargo Express, for facilitating the introduction between FIATA and WFS in France.

Policy Engagement: FIATA Strengthens Ties with OECD

From left to right: Mr Rokas Morkūnas, Director, Policy and Member Engagement, OECD BIAC; Ms Pritha Prasad, FIATA Marketing Officer; Ms Leticia Cherini, International Trade and Law Officer; Ms Yue Wang, FIATA Events and Administration Officer; Ms Sofia Aiche, FIATA Project Officer; Ms Andrea Tang, FIATA Legal Services Director; Nathan Munch, Policy Manage at OECD BIAC; and Dr Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General.

As part of its visit, FIATA met with Business at OECD (BIAC) to reinforce its commitment to multilateral dialogue and to ensuring that freight forwarders are represented in high-level policy discussions on trade, infrastructure, and global supply chains.

The exchange highlighted the need to prioritise corridor development and the strategic use of multimodal transport solutions to address capacity bottlenecks and evolving trade dynamics. Discussions underscored the pressing need for investment in appropriate and transport infrastructure and the importance of promoting new, certified sustainable infrastructure projects that are aligned with international standards and practical industry needs.

FIATA reiterated the role of freight forwarders as key enablers of global connectivity and stressed the importance of embedding their expertise in the design and implementation of infrastructure and trade facilitation policies. By contributing operational insight into issues such as resilience, interoperability, and efficient cargo movement, FIATA supports the development of global frameworks that are both coherent and workable on the ground.

Potential areas for collaboration were identified with several BIAC committees and working groups such as:

  • Digital Policy Committee, which addresses key issues such as digital connectivity, infrastructure, data governance, cybersecurity, and the responsible development of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. This work supports the development of widely used international standards and contributes to the regulatory environment shaping digital trade.
  • Regional Programmes where FIATA and the OECD identified strong alignment in areas such as infrastructure investment, corridor development, and trade facilitation. The current FIATA work on a Best Practice Corridor Handbook was perceived as a promising area for collaboration and mutual learning between the two organisations.

FIATA will continue to strengthen its presence in OECD forums and Policy Groups and engage actively in policy development to ensure that the voice of freight forwarders is both heard and reflected in international policymaking processes.

FIATA extends its thanks to Policy Director Rokas Morkūnas and Policy Manager Nathan Munch for their warm welcome and enthusiasm for future collaboration.

Sustainable Logistics: FIATA Explores Green Corridor Solutions

From left to right: Ms Romane Maréchaux, Deputy Director of the Gennevilliers Agency; Ms Sofia Aiche, FIATA Project Officer; Cédric Virciglio, Strategic Planning and Forecasting Director in charge of International and European Affairs, HAROPA PORT; Ms Yue Wang, FIATA Events and Administration Officer; Ms Leticia Cherini, International Trade and Law Officer; Dr Stéphane Graber, FIATA Director General; Ms Andrea Tang, FIATA Legal Services Director; and Ms Pritha Prasad, FIATA Marketing Officer.

As part of its visit to Paris on 12–13 June, FIATA met with representatives from HAROPA PORT, Paris Terminal and IKEA at the Gennevilliers Port to gain insight into the development of the Seine Axis Green Corridor, a strategic initiative focused on advancing sustainable multimodal transport in the region.

As an illustration of how sustainable logistics is gaining traction even in high-profile contexts, Taylor Swift’s recent Paris concert relied on waterway transport to move eighty containers into the city, demonstrating how inland shipping can offer a viable and more environmentally friendly alternative to road-based delivery, even for major events.

The visit offered FIATA a valuable opportunity to observe how inland ports and terminal operators are working together to promote the shift from road to water and rail, reducing congestion and carbon emissions while increasing efficiency in urban and regional logistics. The concept of massifying goods transport along the Seine Axis aligns closely with FIATA’s advocacy for resilient, low-emission transport corridors that can support evolving trade flows and environmental imperatives.

Emilie Carpels, River Project Director at IKEA, shared a practical example of how IKEA is making use of the Seine to deliver goods directly to the Paris city centre, demonstrating how inland waterways can be effectively integrated into modern supply chains. Presentations by Juan-Manuel Suárez, President Director General, Paris Terminal and Romane Maréchaux, Deputy Director of the Gennevilliers Agency and Cédric Virciglio, Strategic Planning and Forecasting Director in charge of International and European Affairs, HAROPA PORT, highlighted ongoing projects that promote multimodality through infrastructure development, last-mile solutions, and coordinated efforts between public and private actors.

FIATA welcomed the opportunity to exchange on the role of freight forwarders in enabling modal shift, optimising routing, and contributing to the realisation of green logistics strategies. The visit reaffirmed the importance of inland ports such as Gennevilliers and the critical role of waterways in supporting national and European ambitions for a more sustainable and efficient transport network. These topics will be further discussed during the Invitation to the FIATA-Region Europe Field Meeting, 3-4 September 2025 in Prague, Czech Republic, with the participation of HAROPA PORT, and later at the 2025 FIATA World Congress, 6–10 October 2025 in Hanoi, Vietnam, where a special session will be supported by the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam.

FIATA warmly thanks Romane Maréchaux, Cédric Virciglio, Juan-Manuel Suárez, and Pierre Decoussy for their hospitality and their commitment to collaborative, forward-looking logistics solutions.

Member Engagement: FIATA Meets with French Association Member TLF to Advance Shared Priorities

FIATA also met with its Association Member in France, Union des Entreprises de Transport et de Logistique de France (TLF), to exchange on national and international developments impacting the freight forwarding and logistics sector.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen ties and align on key areas of collaboration. A central focus was digitalisation, with in-depth discussions on the progress and challenges facing freight forwarders as they adapt to new requirements around data exchange, electronic transport documents, and systems interoperability. 

FIATA and TLF also touched on topics including regulatory alignment, multimodal transport, and the need to reinforce the voice of freight forwarders in both national and international policy arenas. The visit reinforced FIATA's commitment to working closely with its Association Members to develop innovative solutions that ensure national and regional priorities are considered within a harmonised global logistics framework. FIATA is confident that through such constructive dialogue and joint efforts, the industry can strengthen the global position of freight forwarders.

FIATA thanks TLF for the warm welcome and ongoing engagement in advancing the interests of the freight forwarding community in France and globally.

FIATA Events: Inaugural FIATA-REU Field Meeting in Prague

Reflecting the spirit of the discussions held during FIATA’s visit to France, FIATA encourages its Members and stakeholders to join such dialogues to shape the future of logistics. These conversations are vital to bringing forward voices and ideas that contribute to building a more resilient and sustainable logistics sector while addressing the operational challenges faced daily. FIATA therefore invites its Members and stakeholders to the upcoming 2025 FIATA-Region Europe (REU) Field Meeting taking place 3-4 September 2025 in Prague, Czech Republic. Hosted by the Association Of Forwarding And Logistics Of The Czech Republic (SSL). The meeting will be held in OREA Hotel Pyramida Praha situated 15-20 minutes away to the Václav Havel Airport Prague.

Discover the latest global and regional transport developments with leading experts from across the industry. From intermodal and multimodal logistics optimisation to cutting-edge digitalisation and sustainability discussions, this event will bring together key players to shape the future of freight. Build lasting partnerships, share insights, and explore new opportunities to advance your business and the freight forwarding community. This event provides an ideal and unique platform to strengthen relationships and collaborate on shaping the future of logistics in the FIATA Region Europe.

Dive into dynamic panels covering:

  • Global Economic Outlook and Impacts on Regional Transport Developments – Unlocking Growth through Intermodality
  • Advancing Regional Transport Potential – Global Best Practices for Seamless Intermodal Transport
  • Greener Freight Future and the Role of Waterways in Multimodal Logistics Systems
  • Legal Outlook: Regulatory Challenges globally and in Europe
  • Regional Connectivity and Smarter Border Controls – Enabling a Seamless Flow of Goods in Europe
  • Working Group Road: Transforming Road Freight through Technology and Innovation
  • Enhancing Air connectivity in the Era of Multimodal Logistics


A Gala Dinner will take place on 4 September, offering attendees ample opportunity to continue business discussions and network in a relaxed setting. Specially discounted tours are also available via the dedicated webpage.

Do not miss this opportunity to connect, collaborate and lead the change!

REGISTER NOW!

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