International Freight Forwarding Associations Will Continue Decades Long Relationship

WORLDWIDE – Two stalwarts of the world of freight forwarding CLECAT and FIATA, respectively, the European and global associations for freight forwarding and logistics services providers, have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce the longstanding cooperation between the two associations.

With the manifold pressures on supply chains today equanimity in the sphere of forwarding is most desirable for shippers of all nations. Such understandings are essential to enable the freight agency lobby to produce a combined front to pressure governments and carriers alike. Following the signing event which took place virtually, FIATA President, Basil Pietersen said:

”For many years FIATA and CLECAT have worked collaboratively on agreed international transport, logistics and supply chain management issues, both bodies working with national, regional, and international governmental and non-governmental agencies.

”In all relationships, however, there exists the need to review, revaluate and reinvigorate cooperation. Over the past year FIATA and CLECAT have agreed on the need for a new MoU. By renewing and strengthening our MoU, we can work more effectively in pursuing our common goals and objectives.”

The Associations say they will continue to address the issues which are of key importance to their industry, including engagement with policy makers and stakeholders on issues such as trade facilitation, digitalisation, and the key challenges to secure decarbonisation across the transport and logistics industry.

However, ensuring a level playing field with the other parties in the logistics chain remains equally key. In a rapidly changing business environment, the associations need to respond to the needs of their respective members to ensure that supply chains maintain resilience, are efficient and effective, and seek to promote these requirements with governmental and non-governmental associations. CLECAT President Willem van der Schalk observed:

”The new MoU with FIATA is a great opportunity to strengthen our cooperation and to join forces whenever possible. The framework for cooperation enables both Associations to benefit from agreed actions and initiatives to achieve common objectives to assist our members through the current challenges and disruptions within the supply chain and across multimodal transport operations.”

The two associations know that it remains important to increase understanding on the crucial role of the freight forwarding industry in ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of global supply chains in the movement of goods in the global economy Today, the international freight forwarder’s inherent skills, knowledge and value-added services in the international movement of goods remains pivotal to economic upturn by facilitating trade across borders. This is true not only for large companies but also for SMEs which contribute important benefits to society in all economies.

FIATA and CLECAT share a long history. Their collaboration has been ongoing for more than 25 years, with their first MoU signed in Dubai in 1999. Since then, both Associations have engaged to ensure the interests of freight forwarders are represented coherently and convincingly within the EU and worldwide.