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The FIATA World Congress
in Istanbul was a special event.
At the end of the five-day encounter, we
departed the FIATA Congress convinced that this is one organization with
its eyes on the prize.
Here are a few highlights . . .
The creation of the newly constituted Advisory
Body International Affairs coincided with the MOU signing with the World
Bank, extending a working relationship by teaming beyond the processing
of the Global Logistics Index. The fact that two parties want to do more
and are willing to make the effort to reach a working agreement is the
template for further cooperation up and down the line moving ahead.
Then there was the unanimous approval by
the board to float the FIATA Logistics Academy (FLA), which will plan
and design a platform to utilize on-line education, specifically targeting
young people.
The FIATA diploma on vocational training
has succeeded beyond description and almost 10,000 diplomas have been
issued in the last 6-8 years and has continued to develop at about 1,000
diplomas per annum.
Now the target audience and new frontiers
in the emerging markets can take advantage of the newly structured FLA,
which will closely team up with some prestigious universities.
Finally, the gala dinner was not the usual
dance, dine, and drink affair.
A war to fight EBOLA was declared and the
whole evening committed to passionate fund raising with a clear message:
“We are joining the international
communities to fight EBOLA!” FIATA declared.
That first installment of USD $110,000 was
collected during the evening, table to table, and everyone was caught
up in the moment to do something to assuage this terrible affliction.
Moving ahead with the promise that the fund
will remain open (collections continue to this day) just made the feeling
sweeter; personal considerations and networking aside, we can all stand
up and do the right thing.
Truly, this event—held during the
time of year when days in the northern climes are growing shorter—offered
plenty of room to lengthen the heart and soul of air cargo at FIATA Istanbul.
For 2014 industry trade events, the best
was saved for last, as a dessert we will never forget.
Issa Baluch
Our playful header
reminds us at this time of year to listen to a great song from The Fantasticks,
the long running Off-Broadway play in New York.
Here the guy who sang it first, the late,
great Jerry Orbach delivers “Try To Remember” one more time.
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