FFFAI Golden Jubilee Event on 2nd December 2012
The Federation Of Freight Forwarders Associations In India (FFFAI) celebrated Golden Jubilee on 2nd December 2012.
During an elegant function held at Trident Hotel, BKC in Mumbai, Mr. Shantanu Bhadkamkar, Chairman, FFFAI welcoming the guests and invitees shared the vision for the future. In his welcome address said “Golden Jubilee is a great time to look back and celebrate what one has achieved”. In his concluding remarks he expressed confidence about the industry by mentioning, “We desire to excel our past performance and expand our horizons. Looking ahead, I believe the best is yet to come”.
On the occasion, FFFAI Member’s Handbook &FFFAI NEWS, In-house Magazine of FFFAI were released. The members hand book is a collector’s item, and will be distributed to members free of cost.
Guest Of Honour, Mr. Diwakar Gupta - Managing Director, State Bank of India & Chairman FFFAI, Mr. Shantanu Bhadkamkar Launched the FFFAI-SBI Co-Branded ATM Imprest Card, a first of its kind in India. The first cards were presented to Chairman FFFAI, Mr. Shantanu Bhadkamkar, Mr. Sailesh Bhatia, Convener, Sea Freight Council-FFFAI & Mr. Sarfaraz Khan, Convener - Banking & Insurance Sub-Committee. The unique feature of this card is that the FFFAI Member Company gets control of disbursement of cash to the staff, the workload & responsibility of the Company’s cashier is taken over by the Bank’s ATM & staff in turn has convenience of drawing cash from the closest ATM.
FFFAI recognised people from different walks of life, who had made the nation proud as a part of corporate social responsibility on this occasion:
FFFAI honoured, Mr. Praveen Thipsay, “INTERNATIONAL GRANDMASTER” & recipient of “ARJUNA AWARD”. Mrs. Bahgyashree Thipsay was also honoured for their achievements in chess. Mrs. Bhagyashree Thipsay, INTERNATIONAL WOMAN MASTER, is also recipient of PADMASHREE & ARJUNA AWARD.
FFFAI honoured Inspector of Police, Mr. Kishore Kumar Keshav Shinde for his act of bravery, presence of mind & strong will power he displayed on the night of26/11/2008, to protect life and property for which he recommended for ‘PRESIDENTS POLICE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY’. MR. Ramesh Mahale was honoured for this thorough and flawless investigation in the “26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack Case”. Shri. Ramesh Mahale is recipient of Director General of Police Medal for Unblemished Service for 15 consecutive years &President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
Mr. Arvind Parikh, Past President & Advisor, FFFAI was bestowed with mention in Hall Of Fame for being the first Asian Forwarder to become a President of FIATA and leading Indian Forwarder to be International.
Mr. Tushar Jani, Convener Of Sub-Committee on Visioning was bestowed with mention in Hall Of Fame for being the first CHA to acquire Cargo Aircrafts.
Mr. Shashikiran Shetty, a longstanding member and supporter of FFFAI events, was honoured for being the first CHA-Forwarder to have global presence, with offices in 68 countries in the world & agency network in rest of the world.
Mr. Naval Mehta, Advisor –FFFAI was honoured being a founder member of FFFAI.
FFFAI recognized contribution of Member Associations to the Federation; each association was personally felicitated by presenting Golden Jubilee Plaque.
Indian Institute Of Freight Forwarders (IIFF), signed Memorandum Of Understanding with the following Centers of Learning: Ahmedabad Custom House Agents Association, Bombay Custom House Agents Association, Chennai Custom House Agents Association, Cochin Custom House Agents Association & Mumbai Education Trust for conducting FIATA - Diploma Course in Freight Forwarding.
Addressing the function, Mr. Diwakar Gupta, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of State Bank of India shared that it has been a matter of immense and pleasure working with the Federation to solve the requirements with the advanced technology.
Guest Of Honour, Mr. C. S. Prasad, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone II said, ‘Custom House Agent and Customs are partners, both play an important role for the growth of trade’.
Addressing the function, Chief Guest, Mr. L Radhakrishnan said, “More standardisation of procedures with adoption of advanced technology and coordination between Port, Customs, CHAs and other stakeholders, we the service providers will be able to deliver quality services”.
Mr. Amit Kamat, honorary secretary proposed a lucid vote of thanks.
The function was followed by a musical performance & dinner. Members & guests including members of FFFAI, Customs Department, Port Trusts, Shipping Companies, Airlines, CFS Operators & Trade attended the function.
Earlier in the morning, Golden Jubilee Series Lecture Sessions held for members of FFFAI & host association. The first interactive session on KYC & Protection Of CHA was moderated by Mr. K. R. Bhargava, former Chief Commissioner Of Customs. Mr. Shankar Shinde – Honorary Treasurer – FFFAI introduced the session, Mr. Kartik Pancholi – President ACHAA highlighted key issues, and Mr. George Joseph, President – BCHAAA summed up the session. In the second session Mr. Deepak Ghaisas made a thought provoking speech on Disruptive Innovations & Growth Strategy while Mr. Hetan Patel delivered an excellent presentation FDI funding for the industry.
FFFAI Youth Wing founded for youth emancipation, was launched by Mr. K.R. Bhargava, former Chief Commissioner Of Customs on the eve of the Golden Jubilee, on 1st December 2012. The Youth Wing has 35 members from all across the country.
FEDERATION OF FREIGHT FORWARDERS’ ASSOCIATIONS IN INDIA (FFFAI) is the apex body of 24 Custom House Agents Associations and Sole Representative of more than 3500 Custom House Agents and Freight Forwarders in India who are engaged in freight forwarding, shipping and logistics, controlling 90% of India’s logistics trade employing more than alakh people.
On 2nd December, 1962, former Union Minister of Finance Late Shri Morarjee Desai founded the Federation Of Customs Clearing Agents Associations Of India; now, Federation Of Freight Forwarders Associations’ In India.
Activities undertaken In The Golden Jubilee Year: Numerous activities and new initiatives were taken up in the Golden Jubilee Year by FFFAI:
FFFAI launched Golden Jubilee Celebrations Lecture Series. Amongst the speakers were Mr. S.K. Rahman, Additional Commissioner of Customs on ICEGATE; Honorable Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly graced as Chief Guest; presentation on MSME Registration and Credit Rating by Mr. Mukesh Singh of M/s. Haribhakti SME Transformation & Support Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; presentation on Global Economy by Mr. R. Venkatesh; Mr. C. Rajindran, Commissioner of Customs; Mr. Anand Deshpande, M.D. Persistent Systems Ltd, shared his success story and entrepreneurial vision, explaining how in each phase of growth, the entrepreneurs should change their business and themselves; Mr. Sankalp Bhattacharya of KPMG, State of the Industry; Mr. S. D. Chand, Dy. Commissioner of Customs, President Gold Medalist and the only WCO Accredited Trainer in India made an excellent presentation on Valuation.
Ace shooter & Arjuna Awards awardee, Smt. Anjali Bhagwat, the former world number one & one of the greatest Indian women athletes of all time launched `Women’s Wing` of FFFAI.
Maritime Forum comprising of stake holders such as FFFAI, AMTOI, INSA, FEDSAI, CAI & CSLA was constituted to bring all stake holders in the maritime fraternity on a common platform.
FFFAI News, the quarterly in-house newsletter of FFFAI was launched during the Golden Jubilee celebration.
Coastal Shipping & IWT Council was Constituted For Promoting Green Initiatives
In the newly launched CSR Initiatives, FFFAI recognised the achievements of and the contributions made to the nation the Defence Forces, Police Department, Customs Department, and Sports Personnel by Felicitating the Achievers: Smt. Anjali Bhagwat, professional shooter & Arjuna Award Awardee; Subhedar major Vijay Kumar, Sport Shooter, Silver medalist in London Olympics; Padma Bhushan Shri Chandrakant Borde, former Cricket Captain; Shri Surendra Chavan, Mountaineer: Scaled the Mount Everest Summit in 1998 from the North Side; Shri Raj Khalid, Sport Shooter: Raj Khalid is a former national champion, he is well known to the industry as India Representative of Port of Antwerp; Col. Sadanand B. Salunke, Vir Chakra (VrC); Col. Gautam Khot,Vir Chakra (VrC); and Mr. S. D. Chand, Dy. Commissioner of Customs, President Gold Medalist and the only WCO Accredited Trainer in India.
During the Golden Jubilee Year, FFFAI adopted ‘Empowering The Freight Forwarder’ as the tag line to strengthen the brand equity of the organization. The ‘FFFAI Certificate of Competence By Experience’ has been instituted to recognise the proficiency of experienced Members.