AFFA 14th General Membership Meeting

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NOTHING stopped the ASEAN Freight Forwarders Association (AFFA) from holding its 14th General Membership Meeting, not even the political crisis in Myanmar, which caused a last-minute change in venue to Thailand.

The meeting was held last November 25 at the Windsor Suites Hotel in Bangkok.

AFFA is composed of freight forwarding associations from Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

A total of 27 delegates attended the meeting, including Ms. Geetha Karandawala from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

The Philippine delegation was well represented, headed by FEDFAP President Angelito Colona. Other participants were: PISFA President Erich Lingad, PISFA EVP Irene Manguiat, PISFA Director Barbie Rivadeneira, PISFA Cebu EVP Monette Cuenca, AFPI President Cynthia Tsui and AFFA website coordinator Lio Barayang.

The meeting provided an opportunity for various countries to bring up their concerns. Also taken up during the meeting were training and education, trade facilitation, publicity and industry issues.

The good news is that our very own Angelito Colona was once again voted as chairman of AFFA. His new term will be for another two years. Given the great amount of work to be accomplished, it was deemed best that continuity be preserved and Mr. Colona remain as chairman.

The next AFFA meeting will be in Bali, Indonesia in 2005.