Malaysia moves forwarders

KUALA LUMPUR - The international community of freight forwarders and its related sectors will make Malaysia its base for six days in October 2017 when they descend on Kuala Lumpur to participate in the International Federation of Forwarders Associations (FIATA) World Congress 2017.

Held annually, the FIATA World Congress is a world-class platform for logistics industry leaders from across the globe to gain insights to industry challenges and put forward sustainable solutions.

The FIATA World Congress 2017 will attract some 1,200 participants – besides freight forwarders (air, sea and land), there will be port and airport authorities and operators, government agencies, and related freight associations – for an estimated economic impact of RM10 million (USD 2.9 million).

Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) Chief Executive Officer, Zulkefli Haji Sharif said, “The FIATA World Congress 2017 is a clear nod in Kuala Lumpur’s direction as a leading destination to host these prestigious international events. What’s really significant is that we continue to attract a varied spectrum of business events, and that is not only testament to the nation’s hosting credentials but also a credit to local associations such as the Federation of Malaysian Freight Forwarders (FMFF) who leads the charge to bring in these events.“

“With two ports listed in the top 20 of the World Shipping Council’s World Container Ports 2013, this event will reaffirm Malaysia’s reputation as a logistics hub at the crossroads of Asia. We are confident the Congress in 2017 will add to FIATA’s already distinguished achievements and provide an added veneer to local industry players who stand to benefit significantly from playing host to their international counterparts.”

The bid for the FIATA World Congress 2017 was led by FMFF, the Malaysian affiliate of FIATA and is officially recognised as the national association representing the Malaysia’s logistics industry. The congress will also enable FIATA members and associated bodies such as FMFF to network and collaborate on a regional and global scale.

With Malaysia’s world-class port infrastructure and tax incentives for logistics services, the country is well-positioned to be a hub for leading regional distribution centres (RDC) and preferred international procurement centres (IPC). The Congress will also turn a spotlight on Malaysia’s Port Kelang and Port of Tanjung Pelapas, ranked 13th and 20th respectively under the World Container Ports 2013.

“Freight logistics plays a large role in sustainable development, a pressing issue for many countries today. As such, we are pleased to be able to play our part in supporting this global agenda by hosting the FIATA World Congress 2017. We also look forward to showcasing our country’s world-class logistics facilities and expertise during the congress,” said Alvin Chua Seng Wah, President of FMFF.

The FIATA World Congress 2014 in Istanbul, Turkey was themed “Sustainable Growth in Logistics”. Beyond discussing industry issues, the congress saw the establishment of the FIATA Fund for Ebola Relief which raised USD110,000 from 1,000- delegates who attended.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia