Pictured left to right at the Closing Ceremony of the 2015 FIATA World Congress (FWC) Taipei are Mr. Huxiang Zhao – President of FIATA and Chairman of Sinotrans, China, Mr. Francesco Parisi – Immediate Past President of FIATA, Italy, Mr. Seamus Kavanagh – Executive Officer of the Irish International Freight Association, Mr. Peter Yang Shu-Ping – Host and Chair of Organising Committee of FWC 2015 and Chairman of Taipei Airfreight Forwarders and Logistics Association of Taiwan, Mr. Steven Huang – Co-Host of Organising Committee of FWC 2015 and Chairman of the Taipei Customs Broker’s Association
IIFA is the longest serving Representative body and official voice of Freight Forwarding service provider industry* in Ireland. Established in 1962, it has 120 members nationwide who between them employ more than 3,000 people and handle more than 90% of Ireland’s €148 billion international merchandise trade. Member companies range from homegrown Irish businesses in operation for over 40 years, to leading Multinationals.
Described by FIATA as the ‘Architect of Transport’, the Freight Forwarder acts as professional intermediary between the Client (the Shipper) and the Transportation services utilised, and has the specialist knowledge and expertise needed for the consolidation, storage, handling, packing, carriage of Dangerous Goods, documentary clearance and distribution of physical merchandise. The Freight Forwarder will also service the client’s ancillary requirements, including Customs Clearance, Duty + VAT payment, Marine Insurance cover and documentary credit arrangements.
The association’s overall aim is to ensure that the concerns of Members and their clients are heard and acted upon, thus ensuring that the flow of physical trade between Ireland and the rest of the world is as efficient and cost-effective as possible.
Through its membership of the Revenue’s Customs Consultative Committee (CCC) and other National Working Groups, the Association participates in discussions on local issues affecting international trade. IIFA is also a founding Member and serving partner with the National Logistics Associate Apprenticeship Initiative.
Representation at international level is conducted through IIFA’s membership of FIATA – The International Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations and CLECAT, the European Association for Freight Forwarder and Customs Clearance Agents. IIFA represents Ireland at FIATA’s annual Head Quarters session (March, Switzerland) and World Congress (September/ October, Global locations) while meetings with CLECAT are based by Working Group and can be more frequent. For more on CLECAT and FIATA, please click here.
IIFA is aware of the strategic importance of its role in a country where 82% of manufacturing output is exported, much of it by the 1,000+ overseas companies that have located here. The Association is pledged to raising the professionalism of the Freight Forwarding sector in Ireland through its educational and representative roles; and by fostering the highest ethical standards among its membership.
Freight Forwarding in recent years has undergone a massive transformation in response to the demands and opportunities presented by technology and globalisation. Logistical services, modern information and communications technologies, and total supply chain management are integral to a modern service sector now very far removed from its traditional image of warehouses and docks.
The Freight Forwarder’s role will continue to evolve with technology and trade. Already, some local companies are providing services to clients in other countries. In the years ahead, it is anticipated that Freight Forwarding will develop as a valuable export service in its own right.
*Freight Forwarding is often confused with road haulage, shipping, or air cargo. While it is professionally involved with all of these, Freight Forwarding is a distinct service in its own right, dedicated to the efficient movement of physical trade across international borders.
