FIATA gathered members from around 70 countries for a digital general meeting
In Geneva, FIATA, (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations), gathered the national association and individual members for the FIATA Annual General Meeting, which took place on June 30, 2022.
More than 100 online participants, not counting those sitting behind screens with a large audience, attended yesterday's Annual General Meeting (GM), which approved the presidency's 2021 activity reports and financial matters, including the adoption of the 2023 budget.
The Director General welcomed two new members of the Association: the Freight Forwarders Association of Azerbaijan (FFAA), a country that has become a very strategic participant in the Eastern Logistics Corridor, which is celebrating a year of existence, and the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representing 55 freight forwarders - bringing the total number of Association members reached 113. These additions reinforce the value of FIATA membership even in these unprecedented times.
The AGM confirmed the appointment of Tej Contractor as Chairman of the Advisory Body on Information and Technology (ABIT) and Neil Tunasara as Deputy Chairman of ABIT. Both have recognized expertise in digitization and will continue to use the digitization of commercial documents at FIATA.
Tej Contractor is a customs broker, freight forwarder and logistician representing his company Mayur C. Contractor Logistics Pvt Ltd, Mumbai Local Association and National Association (FFFAI). Neel Tunasar is part of UTIKAD and personally managed all digitalization processes at her company Transorient Inc. The passion of these two professionals will no doubt be felt in the coming months as FIATA works to help national associations implement FIATA's paperless bill of lading.
President Dr. Ivan Petrov shared the focus of FIATA's future, where the key points are digitization, the maritime task force and new challenges with the associated opportunities. The President commented: "We had a very positive digital AGM as many of our member associations from around the world (around 70 countries) were able to attend and vote on the President's proposals, confirming the great work done in 2021."
CEO Dr Stefan Graber “The past year has been challenging for freight forwarding, but we have achieved a lot for FIATA members to facilitate trade, especially on the maritime crisis front. The specific results can be seen in the position paper published yesterday on the matter. issue, as well as in the launch of the electronic FIATA bill of lading earlier this year."