What do you think when you see a picture with many personalities, some you know well, some others you can only guess? Well, you can play the Name Game as Shirley Ellis did in 1964. This is more or less what we do on a daily basis here at FlyingTypers. We dig out our files, send messages and ask our friends and contacts, eventually we mostly manage to publish the picture with the correct caption, but not always. Should we stop publishing for this?
     If you ask me whether this is enjoyment or the grind, may I have the second envelope please? So let me tell you that we LOVE the people of air cargo who create group pictures and then put them up on their Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram and all the other platforms that contribute. This is putting flesh to the bones of our work and I feel it is a wonderful opportunity of this day and age.
     Today all of us in this 21st century posting room of public media can instantly share what’s up/what’s new and generally what’s going on with others surfing media all over the world. But I find myself at a loss when I see most the big group shots of people together, without a simple last step to offer the reader an introduction, thus elevating the subject by putting a name on his or her face.
     The words from 1967 "everybody will be famous for 15 minutes" is often attributed to Andy Warhol, although some think those words have been uttered by Larry Rivers and photographer Nat Finkelstein, who reportedly made the remark in response to Warhol's comments about fame. Consider for a moment everyone might try and give their social media partners a break, and share names of people in the picture during what could turn out to be important few minutes in their life.
     Case in point is this group shot recently taken as The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) met for their World Congress in Hanoi. I am always very happy to share news about FIATA, as I was awarded the title of FIATA Fellow in 2016.
     In this picture we are moving from (left to right) to share some names we know, and who they are. If we are unable to identify a person we respectfully ask you dear reader to help out and we in turn will update the picture. That is another way to play the name game, this time by making it a social media activity. Are we creating a new pastime or a modern golem? Beauty part of this digital world is that all of us can most often change anything we publish and every landing page anywhere in the world. I wonder: does this explain why we are carelessly making so many mistakes today?
     At FIATA in Hanoi (L to R) Stephane Graber, FIATA Director General, Dr Thomas Sim, Singapore, just named President of FIATA, Neil Taylor, Chile, confirmed Treasurer of FIATA, Robert Keen, United Kingdom, outgoing Secretary General, Jens Roemer, Belgium, confirmed Senior Vice President, Marc Bibeau, Canada, Dao Trong Khoa, Vietnam, VP of FIATA, Turgut Erkeskin, Immediate Past President of FIATA, four delegates that we believe are part of the local organizers’ team, Dr Ivan Petrov, former Immediate Past President and now Honourable Member of the Board of FIATA.
     Our own name game stops here because we are not fortunate enough to know the names of the gentleman and the lady on Petrov’s right, but the entries are more than welcome. Hope to hear from you, so we can all share the love and great experience enjoyed by all at the 2025 FIATA World Congress in Hanoi.
     In the Picture is always a name game. We could even evoke another song that teaches us a further lesson in life: “Every picture tells a story.” Do not spend too much time posing, because I

                    “Spent some time feeling inferior
                    Standing in front of my mirror
                    Combed my hair in a thousand ways
                    But I came out looking just the same.”

     As the FIATA Congress started we received an article from Marco Sorgetti, which was unpublished, but I am glad to feature an excerpt from it right now as a closing remark which takes us to the beginning.
GDA

     “FIATA unites in VIETNAM to advance contemporary logistics”: It is autumn. This is the time when The FIATA World Congress normally takes place; as regular as the change of the season, the FIATA World Congress opened its doors in Hanoi, Vietnam on October 6th. This is how FIATA introduced the event in its Press release: “The world is entering a historic period of transformation, where global trade and supply chains are opening up unprecedented opportunities while facing equally unprecedented challenges. From geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions to climate change and the pressure of sustainable development, the logistics industry, often described as the ‘lifeblood of global trade’, is confronted with an urgent demand for comprehensive renewal.”
     Green and resilient logistics are the ‘vital pathway’ for the world as a whole to continue its development according to FIATA.  “Representing the host country, Mr. Dao Trong Khoa, President of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), expressed pride that Vietnam – an emerging logistics hub in the Asia-Pacific region has the honour of welcoming the global logistics community: ‘This event not only reaffirms Vietnam’s rising position on the world logistics map, but also reflects the trust and partnership of the international community with us. Notably, the Congress has received strong support from the Government, particularly from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as well as the close cooperation of ministries, agencies, and the business community’. The VLA President also ‘emphasised that Vietnam is a dynamic and deeply integrated economy with impressive import–export growth, with total trade turnover expected to surpass USD$ 800 billion in 2025. The country is home to more than 45,000 logistics enterprises, including over 5,000 international freight forwarding companies, making a significant contribution to the national economy.’
     FIATA has admittedly been “the global voice of the logistics community for nearly 100 years”, its centennial taking place in Milan next year; but let us go back to Hanoi.  This a first for Vietnam, a country that managed to resurrect in fifty years, to become one of the trading powerhouses of the world. For those who love numbers, the organizers tell us that “the 2025 FIATA World Congress will welcome about 1,200 delegates from more than 100 territories, featuring a high-level agenda, an exhibition of over 120 booths, and a B2B networking programme powered by modern technology.”
     The FlyingTypers had the privilege to listen to President Turgut Erkeskin’s opening speech, which was completely clear in setting the tone of the huge gathering.  “As FIATA approaches its centenary in 2026, we reflect on a century of connecting trade and transport – a century of bridging continents, industries, and people. This Congress marks another important milestone in our journey as we chart the course for the next hundred years of innovation, sustainability, and resilience.” This is how our good friend Turgut started his speech, after the ritual expressions of gratitude to authorities and participants.
       There were mentions of the main achievements since the congress in Panama last year: “FIATA has continued to grow dynamically, pursuing bold innovation and deepening global partnerships. We launched a new mobile application to make container packing standards more accessible, advanced our work on the electronic FIATA Bill of Lading (eFBL) and reinforced our collaboration with multilateral partners, including the World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) . . . ”
     Turgut did not forget the younger generations, where FIATA has been championing good practice such as the “professional standards and reinforced capacity-building efforts through the FIATA Diplomas” for decades, as well as issues of a wider societal character, “championing gender diversity and skills development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5.” On the issue of gender, whilst FIATA has always been active to encourage gender diversity, this had not yet been reflected in the composition of its Presidency, which has indeed been an example of geographical inclusion, but Turgut said that he was “particularly pleased that, for the first time, a woman has been nominated for the FIATA Presidency. This milestone highlights the valuable contributions made by female leaders within our community and marks real progress towards gender balance in FIATA’s leadership.”
     Turgut continued his speech by mentioning the successful efforts made by FIATA in the direction of integrated, paperless and interoperable logistics with remarkable initiatives taken at the level of the FIT Alliance, as well as other initiatives taken at UN level.  “We have completed the development of the insured electronic FIATA Bill of Lading (eFBL) and will commence rollout shortly after the Congress, starting with a pilot in Türkiye.” That was the proud message pronounced by the Turkish FIATA President.
     “The theme of this year’s Congress — “Green and Resilient Logistics” — could not be more timely,” continued President Erkeskin. “Globally, our industry is navigating profound change. Shifts in trade and geopolitics: the rise of e-commerce, rapid technological transformation and the urgent demand for sustainability are reshaping supply chains. Freight forwarders are at the centre of these developments, ensuring goods move reliably, efficiently, and responsibly for people and the planet — even amid uncertainty and protectionist trends.” Approaching his conclusion Turgut came back to the main theme of the congress: “At FIATA, we believe sustainability is not a slogan — it is a new business model. Our Green Logistics initiatives aim to equip freight forwarders with practical tools to measure, reduce, and offset emissions, contributing to the decarbonisation goals of the Paris Agreement.
Beyond the sessions and discussions, the true strength of the FIATA World Congress lies in the connections we make. It is a platform to exchange knowledge, build trust, and develop a shared vision for the future of logistics. In logistics, we move more than goods — we move hope, opportunity, and connection. Let this Congress remind us that resilience begins with cooperation, and sustainability begins with responsibility.”
     Unsurprisingly I completely agree with Turgut’s views and I fi­­­nd his words a truly splendid way to open the promising congress.

     As usual, all eyes will turn to “the Young Logistics Professionals (YLP) Award, celebrating the creativity and pioneering spirit of the next generation shaping the future of global logistics.” Which of the four region won this year? The announcement was made as every year during the glitz of the the Gala Dinner and the winner is: Lingjiao Li, representing the Region Asia-Pacific. This is FIATA’s statement: “Nominated by China International Freight Forwarders, CIFA, her dissertation ‘Multimodal Transport Challenges and Considerations for Oversized Cargo’ clearly analysed the export shipment of an overweight and oversized power plant equipment from China to Bosnia Herzegovina and the import of fresh salmon from Chile to China. Her innovative approach and strong professional insight distinguished her from an outstanding group of finalists, earning them the recognition of this year’s jury.”
     Much to my regret this time I was unable to travel to Hanoi to attend. It is a strange feeling when your friends meet in a yearly congress where you have been working for so long in the past. In a way my acquaintance with FIATA has been for so long now that I am almost able to visually follow the mores and habits of the FWC and imagine its deliberations without being there. Other than the social attractions that will always be extremely well organised and – literally – attractive, what I miss most is the nitty gritty of the arrangements, checking that everything runs smoothly and nobody is left behind.
     When I was in the think of it, it was exhausting, but what a wonderful exhaustion! On the last day, when all was said and done, the few who were still there gave you the encouragement you needed to continue. I remember when in 2012, my first congress as DG in Los Angeles, we had hit the news with a position paper on climate change generating emissions in transport that was pretty strong for that period. Thirteen years on, some of these lines are coming back to memory and I am sure that a Congress that aims at establishing “green, resilient logistics” will say and print many of those words, surely not the same, but there will be a triple echo . . . In a way we are just spiralling into the future, always keeping something from our past and hoping that we can manage better results in future. As Turgut said: sustainability begins with responsibility.
     Thanks FIATA, for a memorable lesson for everyone to listen to.
Marco Sorgetti