FIATA joins IATA World Cargo Symposium and World Customs Organization meetings
Final chances to register with an earlybird fee to 2023 FIATA World Congress!
'The early bird catches the worm'! If you haven't registered yet, do so now to take advantage of the discounted rates. Starting May 1st, the standard rate will apply.
The Congress theme for 2023 is "The Changing Climate of Logistics". This year's edition will cover key challenges, innovations and latest developments in a changing global market, focusing on new trends in global logistics, education, compliance, diversity and responsibility, in its adaptation to climate change.
Be one of the participants and join this international congress where you can interact with governmental and non-governmental organisations. High quality national and international presenters, as well as debates on topical and policy issues, are essential components of the FWC program.
Get more information and register here: https://fiata2023.com/
FIATA leading the way on trade facilitation at World Customs Organization meetings
On 24 April, FIATA attended the meeting of the World Customs Organization Private Sector Consultative Group (WCO-PSCG), held at the WCO HQ in Brussels.
FIATA is pleased to be a longstanding and active participant of this group, which provides a crucial opportunity to provide industry views to WCO members in policymaking decisions. Among others, exchanges were had on the WCO strategic plan with the WCO Deputy Secretary General Ricardo Treviño Chapa, and the ongoing work of the PSCG on business continuity and trade facilitation (led by FIATA) were also discussed.
From 25-27 April FIATA also participated as an observer in the WCO Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) meeting, where FIATA presented the work it is leading at the PSCG on trade facilitation and the tangible actions that would maximise impact at the border. This work is currently being finalised and will be presented at the WCO Policy Commission in June.
In addition, FIATA promoted its Data Governance Charter, recently launched together with the Global Shippers' Forum, encouraging customs administrations to consider principles within their digitalisation efforts to build trust and transparency amongst all stakeholders in data exchange.
Finally, FIATA encouraged the PTC to continue the dialogue on trade facilitation at future meetings, together with the private sector, to exchange on the recommendations developed by the PSCG and to share best practices amongst member states.
FIATA at IATA World Cargo Symposium - "Positive, constructive exchanges with airlines"
This week, FIATA, represented by Director General Dr Stéphane Graber, and Airfreight Institute (AFI) Chair Dawit Woubishet, participated in IATA's World Cargo Symposium WCS2023 in Istanbul, the Cargo Executive Summit, and the 50th session of the Cargo Agency Conference (CAC).
For the first time in approximately 10 years, FIATA spoke at the CAC, according to the memory of the participants. It was a key moment to foster a positive and constructive dialogue between the air cargo stakeholders and to reiterate the importance of working together on a modern and truly global air cargo programme.
The Cargo Executive Summit focused on digitalisation, with participants agreeing on the paramount importance of collaboration, transparency and trust, noting the need for standards to be interoperable and to demonstrate the benefits of digitalisation to users to drive adoption. Cybersecurity and the potential of AI for the detection of dangerous goods were also discussed.
Among the various consultations and discussions that FIATA had with key stakeholders and freight forwarders, the ICS2 multiple filing process was definitely top of the agenda. FIATA also committed to working with IATA on freight forwarders' operational processes, which are mapped in the 7th Edition of the IATA Cargo Handling Manual. The AFI Chair Dawit Woubishet will coordinate this work.
The WCS participants also benefitted from a presentation made by FIATA Senior Vice President Erkeskin on "The Final Mile under challenging conditions" in a special session focused on Türkiye. He highlighted the collaboration and ingenuity of Turkish freight forwarders in the face of severe disruptions of ground infrastructure, and the lessons learned to build guidance for future events.
First official FIATA HQ visit to UND Turkish Association, and UTIKAD welcomes DG in Istanbul
In the last week, FIATA had the pleasure of visiting its Association members in Türkiye alongside the IATA World Cargo Symposium 2023.
FIATA was grateful to be hosted by UTIKAD (Association of International Forwarding and Logistics Service Providers) on this special occasion, and on a public holiday at that! There were fruitful discussions on the FIATA digitalisation strategy with its digital bill of lading (eFBL), FIATA's work on air freight towards a global air cargo programme, as well as training and education matters.
The visit to UND (International Transporters Association of Türkiye) was especially noteworthy, as it was FIATA's first ever official visit to the offices of its member, which focuses particularly on all aspects of road logistics. The two parties discussed the shift of corridors following the Russia-Ukraine war, its logistics challenges and the central role played by Türkiye. The promotion of young logistics professionals and the synergies between the work of FIATA and UND were also explored.
FIATA is looking forward to continuing and strengthening its relationship with its two Turkish association members!
Legal Quarterly Newsletter 'FIATA Focus' - your chance to feature!
FIATA Focus, a quarterly legal newsletter, was launched in the first quarter of 2023 to provide brief updates on key legal developments around the world that affect the forwarding industry, for the benefit of FIATA members. It will feature contributions from FIATA in conjunction with experts from the FIATA membership and legal practitioners, on select topics relevant to forwarders, including new laws, legal implications of various events, and relevant case law developments. It is envisaged that the newsletter will improve business capabilities, knowledge sharing, and strengthen Association Members’ capacity to leverage developments around the world in their own legal and advocacy work drawing from lessons learned in other jurisdictions.
The newsletter will also provide a spotlight on experts in the field, as well as raise awareness of FIATA’s activities to support and strengthen relevant legal regimes for freight forwarders around the world. For this upcoming issue, FIATA will be pleased to receive contributions on the use of FIATA Multimodal Transport documents, with a focus on examples of their use in land transport.
Kindly get in touch with us at legal@fiata.org by 10 May should you wish to contribute!
Call for delegates to represent FIATA at ICS2 Release III meetings
FIATA is seeking delegates to represent the Federation at the upcoming European Commission (DG TAXUD) meetings on the EU new Advanced Cargo Information system (ACI) Import Control System (ICS2) Release 3, scheduled to become effective on March 1, 2024. As operators in the maritime, inland waterways, road, and rail sectors, it is important that freight forwarders' voices are heard in discussions related to the updated cargo information requirements and risk assessment procedures under Release III.
FIATA is looking for experts who are knowledgeable about customs pre-arrival safety and security as well as the implications of Release III on our members and the industry. Experience with road, rail and/or maritime is required. The representative should be able to effectively report to FIATA and be willing to actively participate in the discussions with DG TAXUD or any ICS2 related stakeholder.
If you are interested in representing FIATA at the European Commission meetings on ICS2 Release III, please contact sustainability@fiata.org.
We look forward to working together to ensure that the updated system meets the needs and concerns of our members and the wider industry.
For more information on ICS2 Release 2, click here.
Agenda
Upcoming events:
- 8-12 May ¦ UNCITRAL Working Group VI (Negotiable Multimodal Transport Documents), 42nd session
- 30 May-1 June ¦ ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium 2023
- 8-10 June ¦ 49th Executive Council meeting and Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Asia-Pacific Air Cargo Associations
- 19-21 June ¦ WCO Private Sector Consultative Group and Policy Commission meetings
- 21-23 June ¦ World Chambers of Commerce (WCC) Congress
- 30 June ¦ FIATA Statutory General Meeting