A new industry organisation has been launched aimed at tackling trade, importation and port issues.
Founded by freight forwarding industry advocate Paul Zalai and called Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), it aims to give voice to importer interests and representative bodies and will form alliances with transport industry organisations on common issues.
By Rob McKay | October 2, 2012
A new industry organisation has been launched aimed at tackling trade, importation and port issues.
Founded by freight forwarding industry advocate Paul Zalai and called the Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), it aims to give voice to importer interests and representative bodies and to form alliances with transport industry organisations on common issues.
“Increasingly, so many of the issues flow on from one sector to the other and, increasingly, issues are intertwined,” Zalai says about the need to work with trucking bodies.
And he is preparing to get in contact with the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) and the Australian Trucking Association’s New South Wales branch (ATA NSW) amongst other such organisations to discuss points of shared interest.
Zalai identifies supply chain complexities facing customs brokers and freight forwarders – increasing border security requirements, evolving global trade agreements, variations in international shipping practices and numerous domestic landside logistics issues requiring ongoing reform – as framing the need for such a body.
The focus will be on improved statutory compliance, processes and operational efficiency.
“These issues are intertwined requiring the need for a considered approach in representation to government and various sectors of commerce,” he says.
“In this contemporary environment, it is essential that advocacy is representative of a cross-section of Australia’s international trade sector.”
Zalai will look after the core advocacy role and will have expert support on insurance and finance issues, while the body’s website is presently being completed.
