FFFAI signs MoU with NAFL in Dubai to strengthen cooperation

The Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) and the National Association of Freight & Logistics (NAFL) based in Dubai, UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of the recording and forming the basis of understanding between the said associations to strengthen, promote, and develop co-operation on the basis of equality and mutual benefits. The agreement was formally signed by Shankar Shinde, Chairman, FFFAI, and Nadia Abdul Aziz, President, NAFL.
As per the MoU, key areas of work jointly by FFFAI and NAFL are as follows: a) Trade Support, b) Technology Exchange, c) Women’s Participation, d) Youth Promotion, e) Member Support Safety, f) Skill Development and Training, g) Business Opportunities, and h) Any other areas of cooperation.
The cooperation would also extend to identifying and recommending members to securely do business and safeguarding/protecting them by providing services and support pertaining to payment reliability.
“In view of the fact that there is a trend of increasing trade between India and the UAE and Dubai being one of the strategic hubs of logistics operations, the MoU is very significant. Both FFFAI and NAFL are playing catalysing roles in trade facilitation in their respective countries, i.e., India and UAE. The MoU would further explore new areas for win-win benefits for the members of both the associations in terms of business expansion and enhancement of skills,” shared Shinde. With the recent signing of the India-UAE FTA, the trade between India and the UAE is expected to touch USD 100 billion in the next 5 years, with most Indian items now duty-free in the UAE.
FFFAI is the apex body and the sole representative of 28 member associations from all over India, representing 6,500 custom brokers. The organisation is directly and indirectly connected with freight forwarders, shipping, end-to-end logistics, and international trade and commerce.
NAFL was founded in Dubai in February 1992 as mandated by the Government of Dubai to respond to the need to bring together the increasing number of freight and logistics service providers in the UAE. Apart from trade facilitation, NAFL is playing an important role in spearheading relevant training programs, which are crucial in the development of a corporation as well as the industry.
It is pertinent to mention that FFFAI and NAFL are members of the International Federation of Freight-Forwarders Associations (FIATA), representing freight forwarders in some 150 countries. Based in Geneva, FIATA’s membership is composed of 111 association members and more than 5,500 individual members, representing an industry of 40,000 freight forwarding and logistics firms worldwide.
The MoU was signed during the FFFAI delegation to World Expo 2020 in association with the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) organised event, 3rd Logix 2022, which started on March 21, 2022, in Dubai.