Joint press release: Freight forwarders’ connectivity should not be chained
On Friday 13 June, CLECAT and FIATA, representing freight forwarders on the European and international level, presented their views on the "Role of freight forwarders and logistics in intermodal transport chains" at a workshop of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) hosted by the Government of Belgium in Brussels.
CLECAT and FIATA thanked UNECE for hosting a debate on freight logistics, a sector providing jobs to millions and crucial in terms of added value. Logistics has a key role to play in increasing the competitiveness of states' economies in a sustainable way.
CLECAT and FIATA have pointed out to authorities that logistics must be seen as a business: a really important one for their counties' prosperity. The associations believe logistics should figure more prominently on the political agenda. Ensuring convenient access to global trade by proving the indispensable logistics connectivity is the best political investment policy makers can make in this day and age.
CLECAT and FIATA recognise the importance of transport policy in providing the appropriate regulatory framework, adequate investments in transport infrastructure and ensuring that the required skills are available. So long as these imperatives are properly satisfied transport policy can provide a fair base for efficient, sustainable, safe and secure freight transport and mobility.
Nicolette van der Jagt, Director General of CLECAT, noted that many policies – such as those of modal shift in the EU - have demonstrated that efforts trying to artificially force change by placing restrictions or penalties will inevitably fail and become ineffective, whilst providing incentives and facilitating the move to more sustainable options (e.g. through the removal of regulatory barriers) will be a success.
Freight transport policy should make the industry more attractive for younger people and people re-entering the labour market. This awareness raising and the launch of capacity building campaigns can help improve the image of logistics, a sector always failing to reap the recognition of its merits.
Marco Sorgetti, Director General of FIATA noted that "a lack of investments often appears to be the reason for insufficient progress" and "logistics makes prosperity possible through trade and this is a convenient truth to remember". He eyes the Sustainable Development Goals under the post-2015 agenda as a unique opportunity to promote logistics connectivity among the priorities for sustainable development. "A rare opportunity for governments to seize", Sorgetti said, and "FIATA will help policymakers who try to remove regulatory barriers, and make appropriate investments in transport infrastructure and trade facilitation. FIATA has instruments both in facilitation tools and in training programmes that can be readily deployed." The FIATA DG also noted that "the WTO agreement on trade facilitation has the potential to give international trade a boost and FIATA is anticipating on its implementation by making all its resources available."
Ms van der Jagt concluded that "a continued commitment of our sector to work in partnership with governments and civil society will lead to tangible benefits for the continued economic and sustainable growth."
The Joint Position Paper is available here.
The pdf version of the joint press release is available here.
For more information:
Nicolette van der Jagt, CLECAT Director General
Email: nicolettevdjagt@clecat.org
www.clecat.org
Marco Sorgetti, FIATA Director General
Email: sorgetti@fiata.com
www.fiata.com
About CLECAT
CLECAT was established in 1958 in Antwerp as 'European Liaison Committee of Common Market Forwarders' – also "Comité de Liaison Européen des Commissionaires et Auxiliaires de Transport du Marché Commun" (CLECAT). It is now based in Brussels with a permanent secretariat and offices close to the European institutions. CLECAT is representing the interests of more than 19.000 companies employing in excess of 1.000.000 staff in logistics, freight forwarding and customs services. European freight forwarders and Customs agents clear around 95% of all goods in Europe and handle 65% of the cargo transported by road, 95% of the cargo transported by air and 65% of cargo transport by ship. More information on www.clecat.org
About FIATA
FIATA, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations was founded in Vienna, Austria on May 31, 1926. It is a non-governmental organization that today represents an industry covering approximately 40,000 forwarding and logistics firms, employing around 10 million people in some 160 countries. FIATA has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (inter alia ECE, ESCAP, ESCWA), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). It is recognized as representing the freight forwarding industry by many other governmental organizations, governmental authorities, private international organizations in the field of transport such as the European Commission (through CLECAT), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Union of Railways (UIC), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), etc. More information on www.fiata.com