Important upcoming dates, maritime updates and FWC survey and photos
Reminder to take the 2022 FIATA World Congress survey and access event photos!
What was your best experience at the FIATA World Congress (FWC)? How likely is it that you would recommend it to a friend or colleague? What made you decide to attend the 2022 FIATA World Congress in Busan? Share your opinion, participate in the Post 2022 FIATA World Congress Survey and help us improve the upcoming FWCs!
The pictures of the Congress are now available: from the Opening Ceremony, to the Social Moments, from the FIATA Bodies Meeting to the Panel Discussions, discover the moments that made this FIATA World Congress!
For media coverage of the event, readers are invited to explore more through the following news article clickable links:
- KBS Busan Broadcasting network news clip
- Aririang International Broadcasting network news clip
- KNN news clip
- KNN news clip
The spectacular Opening Ceremony in full
FIATA Review FWC Special on its way to you!
In the aftermath of the FIATA World Congress, FIATA HQ has put together an information-packed FWC Special, with summaries of sessions, as well as key interviews with high-level panelists and experts in their respective fields. Members can expect to receive their printed copies by November, and are asked to report any issues on receiving such to communications@fiata.org.
Digital recipients can expect to be notified in the coming weeks of online access to the October issue.
FITAC expert seminar brought together 70 logistics companies
More than 70 logistics companies attended the seminar organised by the Federation of Colombian Federation of Trade Logistic Agents (FITAC) on Friday 14 October in Bogota, Colombia. FIATA Director General, Dr Stéphane Graber, presented FIATA's priorities to its Colombian members along with Andrea Tang, FIATA International Trade Lawyer, Beatrice Romani, FIATA Digital Consultant, Sofia Aiche, FIATA Project Officer, Cynthia Perisic Ivandic, FIATA ABIA Chair and ALOG General Manager, Neil Taylor, ALOG President, Miguel Angel Espinoza, FITAC General Manager, and Guillermo Gonzalez Larsen, FITACs President.
The meeting focused on the digitalisation of the FIATA eBL, including a demo of the new eFBL, the maritime crisis with the dominant position of the carriers, and the training opportunities through the FIATA diploma. Discussions on the evolution of the logistics workplace with the changing expectations of workers and the shortage of personnel were also addressed, revealing the need to adapt the organisation of work in the sector to attract new professionals to the industry.
Stay tuned and see you at the FITAC XXIII Congreso International to be held from 5 to 7 December 2022 with the Association of Professional Customs Brokers (ASAPRA) and the International Association of Customs and Logistics AEO (AIOEAAL) in Cartagena, Columbia.
Using public consultations to call for a level playing field
Guided by the FIATA Presidency’s strategic priorities and Extended Board’s resolution at the FIATA World Congress recently, FIATA has been actively highlighting the forwarders perspective to regulators across the globe calling for equality of competitive conditions.
In a similar vein to its CBER response, FIATA contributed to the Australian Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Australia’s Maritime Logistics System. The response was complementary to an earlier effort by IFCBAA which detailed concerns specific to the forwarders and customs brokers in Australia. FIATA sought harmonised sector-specific regulations that are periodically reviewed to remain fit for purpose. Key topics it raised for consideration included data security, transparency, clear limitations on the applicability of vessel-sharing agreements only to port-to-port transport, and criteria whose breach will trigger investigations, to ensure fair play. Given the global nature of the shipping industry, FIATA emphasised that coordination with other regulators was necessary to have a homogenous legal regime and wider monitoring of competition in liner shipping.
The United States of America’s Federal Maritime Commission also had a notice for proposed rulemaking on ‘Refusal to Deal or Negotiate with Respect to Vessel Space Accommodations Provided by Ocean Common Carrier’ further to the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, 2022. This topic was a key concern in the responses received by the Maritime Taskforce. FIATA sought clarity on how the FMC will address refusal to deal on online booking platforms and telephone communications. It highlighted how contract rates were often denied to SME forwarders who were then pushed into the spot market at non-competitive rates. The FMC has also opened another consultation on further rulemaking on detention and demurrage billing requirements.
FIATA encourages members to share their input and participate in the upcoming Working Group Sea meetings where these topics will be addressed in detail.
World Bank calls for FIATA members to join LPI Survey 2022
The next edition of the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) benchmarks logistics performance in around 160 countries. The document is to be published later in 2022. FIATA is the World Bank’s most important partner in the LPI survey, and it is thanks to the participation of FIATA’s members that the LPI can be published.
The World Bank invites you to take the survey now! The LPI provides the voice of logistics professionals: It is partly based on a survey among international freight forwarders who share their experience in moving goods and organizing international supply chains for their customers. This is a unique opportunity to “vote” and ultimately influence the environment that you, as professionals, operate in.
Please participate. It is very important to us to have your views! All responses are kept confidential and anonymous.
Completing the survey should only take 10 minutes. Find more information at lpi.worldbank.org. Questions? Email us at LPI@worldbank.org
Agenda
Upcoming events:
- 24 October | 2024 – Window of opportunities for shipping, IMO | Information & online access
- 15 November | FIATA Digital Lab | Sign-up link coming soon!
- 8 December | WTO Agri-Business Conference | FIATA presence
- 18-21 March | FIATA HQ Meeting
- 22 March | Extended Board Meeting