The two-day 46th Executive Council Meeting (ECM) of The Federation of Asia-Pacific AirCargo Association (FAPAA) hosted by the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BAFFA) ended in Dhaka on July 27 at the Radisson Blu Water Garden hotel. The programme held in Dhaka for the second time was participated by 12 FAPAA member countries.
BAFFA organised a press conference on the closing day to share the outcome of their ECM and AGM. The press conference was addressed by Niral Kadawatharatchie- Chairman of FAPAA, Alec Koh, one of the Founding Members of FAPPA, Muammar Ahmad, Director–Finance, BAFFA and representatives of Singapore Cargo Agents Association (SAAA), among others.
Niral Kadawatharatchie said that the participants at the ECM thoroughly discussed on imminent global introduction of the new IATA/FIATA Air Cargo Program (IFACP) and progress of the Pilot Program in Canada, which commenced in 2017 and how it would impact their own specific territory when introduced, particularly in comparison to the current IATA Cargo Agency Program (ICAP). FAPAA members agreed to continue to work to achieve a meaningful dialogue with FIATA on relevant air cargo issues affecting all parties within the sector.
He also mentioned that the new Terminal 3 is coming up for cargo operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. When the new cargo village gets established, it will be a state-of-the-art facility.
In Bangladesh, even though the air cargo growth is speculated to be 15 per cent, it is 10 per cent. Not just Bangladesh, no country in South East Asia really gets to meet the target unless they include sea cargo with air, said the Chairman.
The issues like Cargo Accounts Settlement System (CASS), Air cargo Security, Training and Education were discussed among others at the ECM. The AGM ratified the decision of the ECM to entrust The Federation of Malaysia Freight Forwarders (FMFF) with hosting the 47th FAPAA Executive Council Meeting and AGM, in Kuala Lumpur, in 2020.
The Federation of Asia-Pacific AirCargo Associations (FAPAA) was formed in 1985 to and to enhance the growth, development, and harmonisation of air cargo services within the Asia Pacific and to provide a centralised body focused on the particular needs of the members of its constituent country associations. FAPAA presently includes 19 country members like Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, PR China, Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, China, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri-Lanka, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand.
