The 5th CFCFA Annual Meeting and Business Networking Forum were held on September 1-3, 2014 in Urumqi city (PRC).
The main issues on the agenda were an overview of the progress made over the past year, the preparation of the work plan for 2015 and the holding of elections of the CFCFA management and Board members. Along with this, issues related to improving the effectiveness of the CAREC corridors, as well as proposals to improve the competitiveness and expanding trade in CAREC countries were discussed during the meeting.
At the meeting presentations were made by:
- Mr. Ying Qian, Director of ABD Public Management, Financial Sector and Regional Cooperation Division on “Future Prospects for CFCFA”;
- Mr. Jeff Procak, ADB Regional Cooperation Specialist on “Highlights of the CAREC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) and the refined CAREC Transport and Trade Facilitation Strategy (TTFS)”;
- Mr. Ee Khong Kie (Max), ADB Consultant on “CPMM expansion and refinements to support refined CAREC TTFS”.
During the meeting organizational issues related to the further improvement in CFCFA performance were discussed.
The meeting considered the adoption of two new members into CFCFA: Association of the International Road Transport Operators of the Kyrgyz Republic (AIRTO-KR) and Association of International Automobile Transport of Tajikistan (AIATT).
CFCFA Management was elected. According to the results of the voting Captain Lin Zhong (China) was re-elected as a Chairman of CFCFA. Mr. Akram Mukhidov (Uzbekistan), General Director of Association for Development of Business Logistics, was elected as a Vice-Chairman. Ms. Tsevelsayhan Sharbandi, Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI), was re-elected to the post of CFCFA Treasurer. The functions of CFCFA Secretariat were assigned to Association for Development of Business Logistics (ADBL).
There is also the election of CFCFA Board members. An updated list of CFCFA Board members can be found Here.
The outcomes of the implementation of plans of the working groups were separately reviewed at the meeting. Along with the progress made, the causes of the low level of implementation of previously adopted by the working groups plans were analyzed. According to the results of the discussions the team leaders of the working groups were appointed and recommendations on the organization of effective work were made.
Working Group №1 - Standardization and Adoption of International Best Practices (team leader Mr. T.Shabdanaliev, Freight Operators Association of the Kyrgyz Republic (FOA)
Working Group №2 - Development of cross-border activities and corridors (the team leader Mr. Ge Ju, Xinjiang Uygur Logistics Association)
Working Group №3 - Organizational development and funding (the team leader Mr. B.Beknazov, Uzbek International Forwarders Association).
Working Group will prepare the action plans for priority projects, identify potential funding sources and determine the responsible persons for key business directions.
During the meeting a separate session devoted to insurance issues was organized. Presentations were made by the managers of several major insurance companies in China. At this session, members discussed CFCFA insurance services that are available for trade and transport companies in the CAREC countries, their costs and benefits, and the relevant international rules and regulations.
CFCFA members took part in the 4th International “China-Eurasia Expo-2014” on September 2, 2014. Participation at the exhibition was considered a kind of forum for the development of business contacts, where representatives of logistics, transport and trading companies from CAREC countries had the opportunity to meet with potential partners from different regions of China to explore opportunities for collaboration and networking business.