E-Flash No. 128 - 10 June 2016
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ASSOCIATIONS' AFFAIRS
1. 2016 FIATA World
Congress - Early Bird Registration closes at the end of June
The
city of Dublin, Ireland plays host to the FIATA 2016 World Congress which will
attracts 1,000 logistics professionals and will run from October 3rd until 8th
at the multi-award winning and iconic Convention Centre Dublin (CCD). Ireland's
industry representative body, the Irish International Freight Association
(IIFA), is the local event organiser in co-operation with FIATA. Early bird ticket
discounts are available for sale until 30 June 2016. For further information
please see http://fiata2016.org/register/.
You may require a visa to travel to Ireland. To easily learn about applying for
visas please click the following link http://fiata2016.org/visas/
If you work with logistics, if you are a professional or just curious to know
more, please join us in Dublin for an unforgettable experience!
2. Will you win a Global
Freight Award this year?
FIATA shows its support to the
Global Freight Awards 2016 which aims to honour a number of high performing
companies throughout the industry. We wish to remind our members that there are
just two weeks left to enter the Awards and encourage them to put forth
applications this week.
There are a number of awards in different category which will be honoured. We
encourage members to examine the website to find the right fit for them. http://globalfreightawards.com/categories/?utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_source=GB175%20Informa%20Cargo_Infront%20IFW%20Awards&utm_content=GFA%20Awards%20-%20Drive%20Entries%20-%20June%202016&utm_campaign=GFA%20Awards%20-%20Drive%20Entries%20-%20June%202016
REGIONS
3. FIATA's RAME in support
of a VISA Free Africa
For the past 30 years, Africa
has attempted to address free movement. A continental strategy document was
signed however never implemented. We have heard many stories of Africans and
other citizens not being able to travel to a conference, business meeting or
career prospects because they rightly or wrongly could not meet the visa
requirements.
RAME supports a call for action by Kigali Global Shapers which has put forth a
petition advocating African member states to implement free movement of people
across Africa. Members interested in joining the petition are encouraged to
sign on at: https://www.change.org/p/african-union-heads-of-states-visa-free-africa?recruiter=58022443&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_responsive
4. ALACAT MEETING IN
BARCELONA
ALACAT's President, Mr Galo
Molina, closed a "record congress" in Barcelona on 9th of June after
three days' debates embracing the widest portfolio in logistics, airfreight,
maritime, road and rail and more. FIATA was featured at the opening where DG
Marco Sorgetti gave a presentation about its activities and importantly by the
Chairman of the MTI, Mr Bob Keen, who delivered a preparation on the SOLAS
rules for weighing of containers which was followed by a large audience of
professionals with reverential attention.
The important sections debating
Customs were championed by CLECAT's President and FIATA Vice President, Mr
Steve Parker
To learn more about ALACAT and
its activities please go to: http://alacat.org/
5. 12th Sub-Regional SEEFF
Congress, Odessa
Hosted by Ukrzovnishtrans, the
South East European Congress of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Companies in
Odessa, Ukraine was clearly very successful as FIATA Senior Vice President Mr
Ivan Petrov reported to FIATA. The program consisted of 4 panels on two major
subjects, e.g. the position and role of South East Europe in the development of
Euro-Asian transport links and information technology for trade and logistics
facilitation.
Reaffirming the strong bond of
this sub-region with FIATA, the reunion featured an unforgettable show
dedicated to 90th anniversary of FIATA (with fireworks, opera entertainment and
impressive art show) as well as 20th anniversary of SEEFF Initiative with gala
dinner. A number of FIATA personalities had been invited among them the
Immediate Past President Mr Francesco Parisi and the Chairman of Sustainable
Logistics Mr Heiner Rogge.
A Declaration to the
Governments of South East European Countries has been signed by the Presidents
of FF Associations of 8 countries in the region. FIATA, CLECAT and UNECE would
be informed for reference. Please contact FIATA to receive the text.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
6. WTO opens online
registration for the 2016 Public Forum
Online registration for the
2016 Public Forum is now open on the WTO website: www.wto.org/pf16.
The Forum will be held at the WTO's headquarters in Geneva from 27 to 29
September. Under the theme "Inclusive Trade", it will be an
opportunity for participants to discuss how a wider range of individuals and
businesses can participate in the global trading system and how WTO rules can
help to ensure everyone benefits from trade.
To read more please visit: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news16_e/pfor_08jun16_e.htm
7. WTO - Germany donates
EUR 1 million to help developing countries participate in trade talks
Germany's Federal Ministry for
Economic Cooperation and Development has pledged EUR 1 million in a ceremony
held at the WTO on 1 June 2016 to help developing countries and least-developed
countries (LDCs) participate effectively in global trade negotiations. The
ceremony was attended by WTO Deputy Director-General Mr Yonov Frederick Agah
and Germany's Ambassador to the WTO, Mr Walter Werner.
To read more please visit: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres16_e/pr774_e.htm
8. DG Azevêdo: Lack of
trade finance a major obstacle for SMEs
Speaking at the WTO,
Director-General Mr Roberto Azevêdo highlighted the need to address existing
gaps in the provision of trade finance, especially for small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs).
At a meeting of the WTO's
Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance, DG Azevêdo cited the findings of the
report launched by the WTO earlier this month, entitled "Trade Finance and
SMEs: Bridging the gaps in provision", which takes a detailed look at this
issue. The report, and its various recommendations for action, can be accessed here.
To read more please visit: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news16_e/dgra_31may16_e.htm
9. Sri Lanka ratifies
Trade Facilitation Agreement
Sri Lanka has become the latest
WTO member to ratify the new Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Sri Lanka's
ambassador to the WTO, Mr R.D. Susiri Kumararatne, presented his country's
instrument of acceptance to Director-General Mr Roberto Azevêdo on 31 May.
The TFA will enter into force
once two-thirds of the WTO membership has formally accepted the
Agreement. With the acceptance by Sri Lanka, the number of TFA
ratifications now stands at 81. Thus, the WTO has received three-quarters
of the ratifications needed to bring the TFA into force.
To read more please visit: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news16_e/fac_31may16_e.htm
10. G-7 Leaders Warn of
"Brexit" Risks to Trade, Investment Ahead of June Vote
Leaders from the G-7 coalition
of major advanced economies issued a harsh warning last week over the
ramifications a "Brexit" would have on the global economy, including
for trade and investment, with less than a month remaining before UK voters go
to the polls.
Gathering in Ise-Shima, Japan,
from 26-27 May, the group placed a strong focus on the state of the global
economy, tying in areas ranging from climate and energy to the advancement of
various trade liberalisation processes both in the form of regional trade deals
and the WTO system.
To read more please visit: http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/bridges/news/g-7-leaders-warn-of-brexit-risks-to-trade-investment-ahead-of-june-vote
11. EU and Mexico kick off
talks to re-boost trade and investment relations
EU Commissioner for Trade Ms
Cecilia Malmström met the Secretary of Economy of Mexico Mr Ildefonso Guajardo
Villarreal to mark the beginning of new trade and investment negotiations
between the two commercial partners.
The objective of these talks is
to modernise and broaden the scope of the existing 'global agreement' from 1997
to mirror other ambitious agreements that the EU and Mexico have since negotiated
with other partners.
12. EU, Japan to Aim for
2016 "Agreement in Principle" on FTA
Leaders from the EU and Japan
confirmed last week that they aim to reach an "agreement in
principle" this year for a bilateral trade pact, following over three
years of negotiations.
The statement, issued jointly by Japanese and EU leaders, as
well as those from France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, comes as the
negotiations enter their fourth year. The EU and Japanese economies together account for over one-third of global GDP.
13. World Bank - The
Potential of Intra-regional Trade for South Asia
With intra-regional trade at
less than 5% of total trade, South Asia is the least integrated region in the
world, dwarfed by East Asia's 35% and Europe's 60%. It's 20% cheaper for India
to trade with Brazil than with its neighbour Pakistan. Bangladesh's exports to
India can potentially rise by 300%
Going forward, to see what
South Asia can do to achieve better integration and boost its regional trade
please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/infographic/2016/05/24/the-potential-of-intra-regional-trade-for-south-asia
14. The first official
freight train crosses the Gotthard tunnel
The Swiss Federal Office of
Transport (FOT), Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and the Canton of Uri have run
the first official freight train through the recently inaugurated Gotthard Base
Tunnel, the world's longest and deepest rail tunnel.
During this testing phase, some
freight trains will already start regular commercial operations this summer. In
early September, the majority of freight traffic will be diverted through the
57 km long rail tunnel and rail customers will experience full benefits of this
new connection with the next planned timetable change.
To read more please visit: http://www.think-railways.com/first-official-freight-train-crosses-gotthard-tunnel/
15. ADB, India Sign $200
Million Loan to Help Upgrade 176 Km of Jharkhand Roads
The Asian Development Bank
(ADB) and the Government of India have signed a $200 million loan agreement to
upgrade 176 kilometers (km) of state roads in Jharkhand State that will open up
new economic opportunities and improve access to services for the poor.
The financing for the Jharkhand
State Roads II Project will be used to upgrade sections of four state roads to
two-lane standard, and to support improvements in the design, safety, and
maintenance of the network.
To read more please visit: http://www.adb.org/news/adb-india-sign-200-million-loan-help-upgrade-176-km-jharkhand-roads
AIR FREIGHT
16. ICAO Council
President: Political Will Exists to Complete Aviation's Carbon Neutral Growth
Strategy
Speaking at the 72nd Annual
General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Dublin
today, ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu highlighted that a key
element of the UN agency's ongoing carbon emission mitigation strategy should
be adopted by its Member States at the 39th ICAO Assembly this September.
In addition to agreeing to the
proposed Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation
(CORSIA), the ICAO Assembly is also expected to agree on the respective work
required on behalf of ICAO, its States, and industry, in order for the scheme
to be fully operational by 2020. This includes the establishment of registries,
the determination of the monitoring review and verification (MRV) requirements,
and emissions unit criteria (EUC).
For more information please
visit: http://www.icao.int/Newsroom/Pages/ICAO-Council-President-Political-Will-Exists-to-Complete-Aviation-s-Carbon-Neutral-Growth-Strategy.aspx
17. UPU and IATA set e-CSD
Standards for Mail Security
The Universal Postal Union
(UPU) and IATA are stepping up to implement international security requirements
for mail and cargo shipments.
According to Aviation Security
set at legislative level (e.g. in the European Union) following the ICAO rules,
as well as stated in IATA's Resolution 651, "All Cargo and Mail
consignments intended to be carried on passenger or all-cargo aircraft shall be
subject to screening to effectively detect prohibited items unless appropriate
Security Controls have been applied by a Regulated Agent, a Known Consignor or
Account Consignor and the Cargo and Mail consignment has been protected against
any unlawful interference from the time those Security Controls have been
applied until loading."
The eCSD, which had also been
previously appreciated by FIATA, is a practical way of ensuring that the
necessary information is made available to the concerned parties in a standard
format.
For more information please
visit: http://www.iata.org/publications/tracker/may-2016/Pages/e-csd-mail-poc.aspx
SUSTAINABLE LOGISTICS & CONNECTIVITY
18. 2016 UN High-level
political forum on sustainable development, convened under the auspices of the
Economic and Social Council
The 2016 high-level political
forum on sustainable development will be held from Monday, 11 July, to
Wednesday, 20 July 2016. The session will include voluntary reviews of 22
countries and thematic reviews of progress on the Sustainable Development
Goals, including cross-cutting issues, supported by reviews by the ECOSOC
functional commissions and other inter-governmental bodies and forums.
The theme of the forum for 2016
is "Ensuring that no one is left behind". FIATA is planning to
participate in the event and will continue to keep members updated of key
outcomes. For more information please visit: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf
19. Statement on the WTO
Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA) Negotiations
Trade Ministers and senior
officials from seven EGA members - Australia, Canada, the European Union,
Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and the United States - met in Paris to discuss
progress in the negotiations and to chart a path toward successful conclusion
later this year.
This group has been working
closely together with the aim of concluding an ambitious EGA with all
participants ahead of when G20 Leaders meet in Hangzhou in September for the
G20 Summit.
20. UN Climate Talks in
Bonn Push Forward on Paris Pact
Officials convening in Bonn,
Germany, for the first round of UN climate talks held since the conclusion of a
new universal emissions-cutting deal reached in Paris, France, last December
made cautious progress on sorting through a myriad of agenda items related to
its operationalisation.
The 32-page Paris Agreement
outlined the structure for a climate regime that will see all countries make
contributions to the mitigation effort, expressed in so-called nationally
determined contributions (NDCs). This also includes common transparency efforts
and five-yearly global stocktakes on the progress towards achieving the
agreement's long-term goals, which are intended to drive compliance.
To read more please visit: http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/bridges/news/un-climate-talks-in-bonn-push-forward-on-paris-pact
21. World Bank Group,
International Partners Launch Six Principles for Dialogue on Climate Action
The World Bank Group, along
with 12 international organizations, on Tuesday launched a new initiative that
will make it easier for governments, the private sector and the global
community to work together to lessen the impacts of climate change and for the
private sector to play a more active role in the design of policies and
programs that tackle climate change.
The initiative brings together
leading climate advocacy organizations around a set of six Principles for
Dialogue on Climate Action, which will guide discussions at the global, local
and country level as governments and their private sector partners implement
plans and identify solutions to help deal with this major global crisis.
To read more please visit: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2016/05/24/world-bank-group-international-partners-launch-six-principles-for-dialogue-on-climate-action
22. Principal UN policy
forum in Asia-Pacific opens with focus on implementation of 2030 Agenda
UNESCAP opened its 72nd session
in Bangkok on 17 May with United Nations UnderSecretary-General and Executive
Secretary of ESCAP Dr. Shamshad Akhtar emphasizing that strong political
commitment, action and well-functioning coordination mechanisms, fully
supported by the countries of Asia and the Pacific, will be critical to ensure
that "no one is left behind."
To read more please visit: http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/escap-newsletter-june2016.pdf
23. COP22 Low-Emissions
Solutions Conference will bring together cities, government, academics and
business to scale up climate solutions
Government of Morocco, UN
Sustainable Development Solutions Network, World Business Council for
Sustainable Development and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, will
present the solutions-focused conference during COP22 in November 2016
Cities, business and government
will come together to scale up solutions for climate action at COP22 in
Marrakesh, Morocco, following an announcement today that four leading
organizations will present a Low Emissions Solutions Conference in order to
accelerate the implementation of solutions under the historic Paris Agreement.
To read more please visit: http://unsdsn.org/news/2016/05/05/cop22-low-emissions-solutions-conference-will-bring-together-cities-government-and-business-to-scale-up-climate-solutions/