Global Forums, Industry Standards, and Strategic Initiatives
FIATA's Strategic Participation at the Global Logistics Forum 2024 in Riyadh: Shaping the Future of Logistics
Under the theme “Reshaping the Global Map of Logistics,” the Global Logistics Forum 2024 (GLF2024) in Riyadh gathered 13,000 attendees, 130 visionary speakers, and 50 leading partners from over 30 territories on 13 and 14 October. This key event in the Middle East saw 69 strategic agreements, MoUs, and deals signed, positioning it as a pivotal platform for discussions on the future of the logistics industry. Attendees gained cutting-edge insights from sector leaders, aiming to redefine the global logistics landscape and set new standards for trade and connectivity.
FIATA Director General, Dr Stéphane Graber, had the honour of participating in the Gulf Ministries' closed roundtable preceding the event’s opening, led by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, H.E. Saleh Al-Jasser. This provided a unique opportunity to reaffirm FIATA as a key reference for international policies and regulations in the freight forwarding and logistics industry, as well as a leader in shaping global industry standards. Representing over 40,000 freight forwarding companies, across 150 territories, FIATA also emphasised its role as a global leader in driving digital transformation within the sector.
In a dedicated panel, alongside experts in e-commerce and technology, the FIATA Director General delved into the latest trends in logistics digitalisation and the implementation of seamless digital integration. The discussion emphasised the importance of interconnected systems, and the critical role of change management in driving these transformations, further strengthening FIATA’s key role in innovation and leadership in the sector’s digital evolution.
The forum also served as a strategic opportunity to deepen FIATA’s engagement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Kingdom’s "Vision 2030". FIATA held a key meeting with the Vice-Minister of Transport & Logistic Services, H.E. Dr Rumaih AL-Rumaih, with the leading figures in the Saudi logistics sector including its local Association Member, the National Logistics Committee from the Federation for Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The discussions led to a concrete action plan, including efforts to enhance the adoption of FIATA’s training and education programmes under the Saudi Logistics Academy led by its CEO, Dr Abdullah bin Abdulmohsen Al-Abdulkarim, and to unlock the full potential of the FIATA Digital Bill of Lading (eFBL) for the Kingdom’s freight forwarders. This initiative aims to bolster Saudi Arabia's position as a regional logistics superhub, ensuring that the local freight forwarding community fully benefits from FIATA membership while advancing the Kingdom's ambitious goals for the sector.
FIATA’s active role at GLF2024 reaffirmed its commitment to fostering global trade and connectivity, driving digitalisation, and supporting the evolving needs of the logistics industry.
FIATA Meeting with H.E. Dr Rumaih AL-Rumaih, Vice Minister Of Transport & Logistic Services
Contribute to the FIT Alliance eBL Survey 2024, Now!
As the logistics and freight forwarding industry moves further into digitalisation, electronic bills of lading (eBL) are becoming increasingly vital for optimising efficiency and simplifying operations. To fully understand the hurdles and potential advantages of eBL adoption, it’s important to hear directly from industry professionals.
FIATA is encouraging your participation in the Future International Trade (FIT) Alliance eBL Survey 2024. By taking part, you will have the chance to offer your insights, share your experiences, and provide feedback on the use of eBLs. Your contributions will help shape future approaches, tackle existing challenges, and unlock the key benefits eBL can bring to the global logistics landscape.
Why Your Input Matters As the digital shift accelerates, eBLs offer distinct advantages over traditional paper methods, including faster transactions, lower costs, and greater security. However, there are still obstacles to overcome. By completing the FIT Alliance eBL Survey, you will be helping to pinpoint what is working well and where improvements are necessary, ensuring a smoother transition for the entire industry.
How to Get Involved
Click here to complete the survey!
Your participation will provide valuable insights into the current use of eBLs and help guide the future direction of digital logistics.
Help Drive Change
The logistics sector is undergoing a major digital transformation, with eBL at its core. By contributing your knowledge, you are playing a vital role in advancing a more efficient, secure, and sustainable future for the industry.
We greatly appreciate your expertise and look forward to your input!
FIATA discusses supply chain disruption and digitalisation at Trade Credit Insurance Week
On 8 October 2024, the FIATA Legal Services Director, Andrea Tang, participated in a panel discussion on supply chain disruption and digitalisation at Trade Credit Insurance Week, hosted by the International Credit Insurance and Surety Association (ICISA). Moderated by Trade Finance Global, this virtual panel brought together FIATA, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and Control Risks.
The panel discussion addressed the most pressing threats to global supply chain in today’s volatile world, and their impacts to global trade. Trust was highlighted as a key issue in this context, with regulatory confrontation and stakeholder mistrust paving the way for fragmented responses, which can lead to further disruption. Discussions took place on the need to mitigate the negative impact, with a particular focus on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises who are particularly vulnerable to imbalanced practices and high trade costs. It was noted that the emergence of new and increased supply chain risks may require a rethinking in terms of contractual and risk management practices, to facilitate greater reliability and enforceability in contracts of carriage.
In addition, digitalisation was highlighted as a powerful tool to build trust and visibility in the supply chain when used in a collaborative, not fragmented manner. The work done by FIATA on providing resources and support in the industry was highlighted. Collaboration emerged as a key theme throughout the panel, bringing to the forefront the key role of organisations such as FIATA and ICISA in uniting industry stakeholders to find common solutions.
Latest EU ICS2 Technical Call: Error Messages Review And Updated Guidelines Issued
FIATA took part in the European Commission's technical call regarding the Import Control System 2 (ICS2) on 2nd October, where updates on the system's performance and data issues were shared. During the meeting, the European Commission reported that over 1,000 error messages, along with their associated Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) files, have been reviewed and classified into various categories. The majority of errors were caused by missing data (375), followed by invalid data (354), filing process issues (326), and invalid characters (34). It is crucial that all involved parties ensure compliance with EU ICS2 data requirements to avoid any supply chain disruptions.
FIATA, in collaboration with the Global Shippers Forum (GSF), has developed a Guidance Note on Enhancing Data Quality and Information Exchange for the EU ICS2 Regime. This document aims to support the industry in improving data accuracy and compliance. FIATA encourages its Members to consult this guidance note.
The European Commission ICS2 team has also recently issued the latest Known Error List (KEL) and version 3.5 of the ICS2 Test Design Specifications for Economic Operator Conformance Test document. These specifications outline the test scenarios traders must complete within Release 2 and Release 3 of ICS2. The test scenarios applicable to ICS2 Release 2 will remain applicable after the Release 3 go-live.
FIATA members are invited to check the latest EU documents, FIATA-GSF guidance note here and visit the EU Commission website for more information.
EU Advances on Addressing Driver Shortage and Green Transition Challenges
The European Parliament has taken a key step towards resolving Europe’s driver shortage crisis by supporting negotiations to lower the minimum age for driver training. Currently, prospective drivers must be 21, but industry advocates, including the International Road Transport Union (IRU), are calling for the trainee age to be reduced to 17 to attract younger talent. This is seen as essential to address the European Union’s shortage of 600,000 drivers.
In addition, discussions will focus on updating driving license rules and easing regulations on vehicle weights and dimensions. This is crucial for hauliers, as greener trucks are typically larger and heavier, creating regulatory challenges. The changes would support both industry needs and the EU’s sustainability goals, helping hauliers manage the green transition more effectively.
These reforms could bring much-needed relief to smaller firms struggling with regulatory burdens in both driver recruitment and vehicle compliance.
FIATA Working Group (WG) Road has been actively examining the issue of driver shortages and exploring potential solutions in its meetings. A key challenge identified during these discussions is the difficulty of securing visas for qualified drivers to move from regions with an oversupply of drivers to areas facing significant shortages. To help address this issue, FIATA is collaborating with the IRU to raise awareness about the importance of easing visa requirements. Together, FIATA and IRU will advocate for visa facilitation measures, emphasising the impact of current restrictions on driver shortages and the potential benefits of streamlined visa processes in alleviating the crisis.