KEYNOTE INTERVIEW GACAG
MAXIMISING THE CLOUT FACTOR
In an exclusive interview with Air Logistics Management, Chris Welsh, secretary general of the Global Shippers’ Forum, explains why the principle aim of the new Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG) is to enable all those involved in the air cargo supply chain to speak with one voice on matters of common interest
Can you outline the thinking behind the formation of the Global Shippers Forum (GSF)? Essentially, the need for a more influential and effective voice for shippers at an international level. In particular, GSF wants to attain UN accreditation and consultation status with the main inter-governmental transport organisations such as the World Customs Organization (WCO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This will enable shippers to influence and shape international rules and regulations impacting shippers’ global supply chains.
What is the Global Air Cargo Advisory Group? GACAG is a new organisation established by the main international trade associations representing the air cargo supply chain. The GACAG membership comprises GSF, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA).
What prompted you to create the GACAG grouping? While shippers’ organisations at a national and regional level were highly effective, this was not the case internationally, and shippers lacked real
influence with international air cargo regulators. At our 2010 annual meeting in Macau the GSF discussed how we could change this. As part of that process we invited IATA to a round table discussion. We discovered that we had a common set of issues and agenda. At
CARGO SUPPLY CHAIN
COALITION OF THE MAIN AIR
RECOGNISED THAT AN EFFECTIVE
“WE ALL
POTENTIALLY CREATED A POWERFUL INDUSTRY LOBBY”
the same time TIACA were doing much the same thing. We realised individually that we were making slow progress, and we all recognised that an effective coalition of the main air cargo supply chain potentially created a powerful industry lobby; hence GACAG was born.
What are the principal aims of GACAG? In short, to maximise our clout with international air cargo regulators, whether this is combating the destabilising unilateral decision of the EU Commission to introduce the EU emission trading scheme (ETS), getting some degree of harmonisation of air cargo security schemes with the WCO and US agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection Agency, or helping to break the logjam in rolling out e-commerce.
What do you see as the main areas of immediate concern for the air cargo industry? Like all organisations we live in the ‘here and now’ world and if the recent air cargo figures represent a barometer of the health of international trade we are in for some challenging times. So, my view is that we should focus on those issues that will improve the competitiveness of the air cargo sector. Of course, the EU’s decision to go it alone with ETS from January 2012 is hardly likely to improve competitiveness, especially when there are alternative ways of tackling air transport emissions.
How much clout does GSF/GACAG have in influencing decisions at a governmental level? This is still very much work in progress and we have much to do. However,
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