In the world of big, slick and well-moneyed it’s sometimes the low key, unobtrusive things that leave the most meaningful impact on one’s mind. By the former I’m thinking IATA or even FIATA. In the case of the latter its FAPAA I’m thinking of. It’s quite possible many of you have never heard of FAPAA – it is the Federation of Asia-Pacific Aircargo Associations representing a hugely diverse group of air freight forwarding associations spanning the width of Asia from Japan to India and Nepal to New Zealand. They don’t have a fancy Geneva headquarters, they don’t produce half-a-dozen press releases each month (indeed they produce no more than a modest one or two a year) and they don’t hold big conferences, but they are the guys on the ground across Asia. And one thing is very clear – they’re passionate about their industry.
As editor of the official publication for FAPAA I’m honoured each year to be extended delegate status at the association’s Executive Council Meeting. This year’s meeting wrapped up only days prior to my writing this and was pulled off flawlessly by the Bangladesh Freight Forwarding Association. Hosted in Dhaka it gave many of the delegates a first time look at country that has made a long, and at least in its early days, tumultuous struggle to stand as one among the community of nations. Like much of the sub-continent it is riding the wave of economic growth that will one day soon help it reach its true capabilities.
While the meeting fell onto the well trodden path of issues impacting the air forwarding community, it was interesting to see both the extreme commonality of many of the issues facing the different countries represented in the grouping, as well as the diverse nature of some of the issues. As both an official forum and an informal networking environment, the meeting provides an excellent opportunity for its delegates to swap ideas, strategies and solutions to many of the challenges they face, which can then be taken back to their wider country membership.
But unfortunately while this meeting is a gathering of kindred spirits and like minds, outside of this meeting, these key players are frequently under-appreciated by the other parts of the industry – particularly the ‘big boys’ epitomised by the carriers and their omnipresent association. In many cases the relationship between forwarders and carriers – buyer and seller we must remember – is as it should be. In other cases it is not and there is no denying the friction between forwarders and IATA. This is not only most unfortunate, but totally unnecessary and easily remedied, but yet not.
This industry is continually beset by ever-changing challenges and so desperately needs unity and cooperation. And while it does happen, there is unfortunately not enough mutual effort amongst all parts of the air cargo supply chain to really push this industry to the higher level it deserves. I personally – and I think the vast swath of the industry would be on-side on this one – dearly hope that the new and seemingly sudden leadership shown by TIACA and its highly respected chairman Michael Steen, can help smooth over the rough cracks in the industry. And I’m optimistic that the Global Air Cargo Action Group (GACAG) will be a truly meaningful and positive force for the industry – not only in dealing with fickle external parties like the TSA, but within the industry as well. With solid leadership representing the various parts of the air cargo supply chain actively engaged, surely only something positive will result.