Besides safe-guarding and promoting its members’ interests, it provides professional assistance and guidance to its members and also to various central and state government departments and authorities connected with the industry. ACAAI promotes growth, development and professionalism in the IAC business.
Trade symposium
On 2 May 2008, ACAAI organised a one day industry symposium titled, “Revitalising Aircargo: Imperative to Grow India’s Global Tradeâ€Â. Aimed at addressing areas of concern including regulatory, airports, infrastructure, airlines, customers, etc., the panelists were comprised of senior officials from the ministry, airlines, airport authority, etc. Well attended, including members of the media, the symposium provided an interactive platform to debate and deliberate on the issues between the various segments of the industry.
Indian Air Cargo Programme (IACP)
Indian forwarders will soon embrace the new IACP which is set to be introduced shortly under the new IATA Resolution 815. Currently Indian air cargo agents are governed by Resolution 801. Under the new IACP a Joint Council comprising of 6 airlines and 6 ACAAI forwarders will equally represent the interest of Air Cargo Committee.
A very significant aspect of this new Resolution is the recognition of the transition of the role of the “air cargo agent†into an “air cargo intermediaryâ€Â. The principal-to-principal relationship of the airline and the air cargo intermediary is hence appropriately addressed under this new Resolution.
ACAAI convention
Each year a three-day annual convention is organised by ACAAI which is a Update: Air Cargo Agents Association of India major event for the cargo industry in India. In a bid to provide more international exposure to its members the ACAAI has organized such conventions outside India. In December 2008 ACAAI was to hold its annual convention in Bahrain, but was cancelled due to the most unfortunate incidents of terrorism in Mumbai that took place just prior to the convention dates.
Infrastructure
The ACAAI has made recommendations to the Ministry of Civil Aviation regarding infrastructure development, with the suggestion that there is an urgent need for a review. Additionally, the association feels there should be a vision at the local level for overall effectiveness of the airports and a detailed look should be taken at the overall transaction cost and time that the customer bears.
Regulatory functions should be implemented in tune with trade needs. At the same time, national and local fora/ interactions may periodically review the effectiveness of discussions and actions. Improved interface is needed between various parties at airports like handing over responsibility, liability, accountability, etc. ACAAI has and is playing a major role in the development of the new privatised airports of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai.
Industry-level EDI implementation
Currently, there is no industry level platform, and each segment of the aircargo industry has its own EDI system, thereby fragmenting the EDI change process. Th e various segments need to be integrated and a uniform standalone system, which is able to communicate eff ectively with each segment of the industry, needs to be put in place urgently.
Not only would this increase the level of efficiency, it would also decrease problems faced due to multiple data entries, thereby reducing costs and delivering a high level of performance. This needs to cover all players in the supply chain industry – a mission which is high on the ACAAI’s agenda and it’s managing committee is actively pursuing implementationof such an EDI platform for the benefit of ACAAI’s members,as well as, all segments related to aircargo trade.
India’s air cargo industry growth
The air cargo industry in India has grown significantly in recent years due to increased liberalisation and enhanced competitiveness of many segments of Indian industry and in line with the general buoyancy in India’s international trade during the previous couple of years. The current scenario under the world recession is, however, further bleak. Government, in consultation with industry is constantly reviewing the need for further liberalisation of the economy and takes steps towards globalisation of trade.
The growth in the economy generally has resulted in the growth of both exports and imports, which has, in turn, manifested itself in the substantial growth in all sectors of the economy, whether they be information, technology, manufacturing and the services sector of foreign trade. The air cargo industry is expected to play an active role in India’s export and imports. International cargo has grown at 6.8 per cent per annum while domestic cargo has grownat 9.9 per cent per annum.
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FAPAA family hasnew member
The Federation of Asia Pacific Aircargo Associations (FAPAA) has grown with addition of the Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA), bringing the association to a total of 18 country associations. Established in 2005, PIFFA represents more than 400 companies based in Pakistan providing land, air, ocean combined transport and other logistics services. “We wish to take this opportunity to welcome PIFFA and to off r our support in assisting wherever possible with work on behalf of their membership,†said FAPAA’s secretariat. PIFFA is chaired by Babar Badat and its secretary general isAnwar Ahmed.
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