FFFAI's chairman elect to focus on strengthening federation

September 4, 2017: Ashish Pednekar has been chosen for the chairmanship of Federation of Freight Forwarders' Associations in India (FFFAI). His new role will come into effect after September 22, when a new Executive Committee will take charge for two years’ term 2017-2019.

As a new chairman for this term, Pednekar said he has several innovative plans and programmes in his mind to strengthen FFFAI as well as customs broking, freight forwarding and logistics industry in India.

“My first priority would be creating awareness and hard works to make the FIATA World Congress-2018, which is taking place from September 25 to 29 in New Delhi with FFFAI as host organisation, a great success. Already we are witnessing huge excitements about the mega international logistics event in India among freight forwarding, entire logistics industry and government agencies. As FIATA World Congress has been the benchmarking event for all logistics professionals, we are expecting 1500 foreign and Indian delegates in this mega international event. FFFAI is committed to make this event a milestone for the development of India’s manufacturing, export/import, forwarding and logistics industry. It would provide an opportunity for interaction on best practices in logistics across the world,” said Pednekar. The FFFAI Chairman for 2017-19 is seeking support from all industry stakeholders and government to script the success story of FWC-2018. Meanwhile, Pednekar along with other FFFAI leaders is regularly interacting with all relevant ministries and PMO office for their maximum participation.

Commenting on other priorities during his stint Pednekar maintained that the present Prime Minister of India’s vision “zero corruption” should be implemented in letter of intent and spirit. “We would convey regular suggestions to the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance to make sure there are transparency and minimum interfaces between Department of Customs and Customs Brokers.

“We support all path-breaking initiatives from the government including the latest revolutionary step called GST, which has integrated the country as regard to financial integration, facilitation of quick cargo movement and revenue earnings to strengthen the country,” he added.

At the same time the chairman elect also emphasised on enhancing skill for logistics industry by collaborating with the government. “Our skill developing arm Indian Institute of Freight Forwarders (IIFF) is going to further strengthen government’s Skill India initiative for the benefit of logistics industry by signing MoU with the Skill Council for Logistics, under the Ministry of Skill Development. There is huge skill gap prevailing in the cargo and logistics industry and IIFF under FFFAI would play the critical role in supplying trained manpower, which result in tremendous effects on performance and perception about this hitherto unorganized and at the same time potential sunrise sector,” Pednekar shared.