It is not all that often one has the opportunity to speak to a leader charged with the responsibility and legacy of a legendary multi-modal company, but that is exactly what occurred when we spoke to Francesco Parisi in Zurich earlier this year.
      Mr. Parisi is CEO of Parisi Group, a freight forwarding and shipping agency founded in 1807 in Trieste by Francesco Parisi (1778-1813).
      “We had humble beginnings, ” Mr. Parisi said. “We expanded 50 years later when Parisi opened a branch in Vienna (1857), during the years of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
      “Venice followed after when we set up business there in 1872, followed by Munich, Germany, in 1879,” Francesco Parisi declared.
      “Today the Parisi Family still operates the company, which is now in its eighth generation, and features 400 employees in 7 countries, including a global network of agents.

Italy To The World

      “Our Italian operation has always kept its original main focus on sea cargo, however we are truly multi-modal and air freight has always been a fundamental option for our customers.
      “Our airfreight business in Italy is managed by our Milan branch office with stations located at both the VCE and TRS aerial gateways.” 

The Parisi Group

      “Parisi Grand Smooth Logistics in Asia is a joint venture arrangement between two thriving business partners.
      The result is a freight forwarding and logistics company with extensive local knowledge of Asian shipping markets.
      “Today PGS Logistics employs more than 300 dedicated and experienced freight forwarding and logistics professionals at offices in Hong Kong (HQ) and branch offices in Greater China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
      “PGS Logistics is a licensed Class A Forwarder in Mainland China, International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) agent, and is equipped to work directly with air and shipping lines, process customs clearance for import and export, and act as a warehouse and trucking operator.”

Europe Multipurpose Terminals

      “EMT,” Francesco Parisi said, “is a company created by Parisi Group in 2010 that operates at Pier VI of the Port of Trieste, which it has rights to for 25 years.
      “Molo VI is located in the center of the Port of Trieste and features 70,000 square meters of space, 1,500 meters of quay, a RO-RO berth with a draft of 29-33 feet, four railroad tracks, and a 8,000 square meters of warehouse.
      “Our main activities consist in the RO-RO ships scheduled service departing from Molo VI to Istanbul.
      “Rail connections include the Molo VI intermodal service scheduled departures for Eifeltor Köln (DE), Luwigshafen (DE), Bettembourg (LUX), Ostrava (CZ), and Monaco (DE).” 

About FIATA

      Francesco Parisi served as President of FIATA during a two-year term from 2013 until 2015.
      “FIATA supports the proposition that no one is self sufficient in the supply chain; all depend on each other.
      “Instead of confrontation, collaboration can allow everyone to accelerate achievements on a grand scale.
      “As a member of FIATA, everyone has an opportunity to meet colleagues from every part of the world.
      “FIATA helps everyone understand what is going on and how to implement effective best case scenarios.
      “In terms of my commitment to FIATA, as a proud European, when I served as president I worked to develop FIATA into a less Eurocentric and more global association.
      “That meant a lot of travel, including showing up through my term at events all over the world, where among other things we advanced cooperation exponentially. 
      “Serving FIATA has been an unforgettable experience, especially in meeting so many people and having learned so much.
      “I am proud to report that because of an active dedicated membership, FIATA is heavily invested in training and education, an activity that is a cornerstone of Parisi Group.
      “In my view, education is the most valuable service FIATA can offer to its members.”

Cooperation Needed

      “Our industry is very fragmented compared to other industries in the transportation business.
      “The business models can be very different and the size of the companies as well.
      “There is one common denominator for sure: we all collaborate on a daily basis with people from different countries, diverse cultures, varying legal systems, and of course speaking different languages.
      “FIATA is a tremendous place where we can share experiences and learn from each other.”

A New York Connection

      You might think that moving into the family business would have been a slam-dunk sure-thing for Francesco Parisi.
      But au contraire, after high school studies in ancient Greek and Latin and an MBA from New York University (NYU) Law School in New York City, Francesco worked his way out to JFK International Airport.
      “Our U.S. subsidiary was established in 1948 by my grandfather when our family was doubtful if free economy would survive in Europe. We had just lost 14 branches in Eastern Europe—East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary—because those counties ended up East of the ‘iron curtain’ and our business was taken over by government agencies.
      “Our first air freight manager in JFK was Charlie Rinka, a former Pan Am air freight pioneer who set up air freight in Istanbul for Pan Am. 
      “I joined the Parisi office at JFK to help my father, who never pushed me to join him.
      “But later after realizing that I just had no great talent for becoming an artist or a doctor, I realized that it was my time to work full-time for the company.
      “Thinking back, for myself and certainly my Dad, I am quite happy I joined the family business,” Francesco smiled.
Geoffrey