Earthquake Relief Funds, Sustainable Logistics, EES in South-East Europe, 2026 FIATA World Congress & New Speakers Announced

24 August 2026

Earthquake Relief Fund: The FIATA Family Stands with Indonesia and Colombia

Only five days after the devastating earthquake in Colombia, a powerful earthquake also struck eastern Indonesia on 15 August, causing widespread devastation across Flores Island and the surrounding province of East Nusa Tenggara. Homes and public buildings have collapsed, entire communities have been cut off, and search and rescue teams continue to work through the rubble in the areas that bore the greatest impact.

The magnitude 7.7 earthquake, with its epicentre off the coast of Flores, ranks among the strongest recorded anywhere in the world so far this year, and it triggered a tsunami warning across four provinces before the alert was lifted. As of 23 August, the disaster is reported to have claimed at least 91 lives and injured close to 1,300 people. Thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed, along with numerous schools, health facilities and places of worship, while a long series of aftershocks has continued to unsettle the affected communities.

The earthquake has also had a marked effect on transport and logistics across the region. Landslides have blocked sections of the Trans-Flores Highway, the main road connecting communities along the mountainous island, and disrupted operations at several airports. With a number of remote coastal settlements and outlying islands cut off, the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those who need it most has been made considerably more difficult.

Similar to its response following the earthquake in Colombia, FIATA has activated the FIATA Earthquake Relief Fund in support of those affected by this latest disaster. All donations received will be transferred in full to the Indonesian Logistics and Forwarders Association (ILFA), FIATA's Association Member in Indonesia, to assist with immediate relief efforts and help affected communities begin the process of recovery and reconstruction.

To the Indonesian freight forwarding community, its Members and all who have suffered in recent days, FIATA offers its heartfelt sympathy and support.

This is a moment for the wider industry to respond. FIATA therefore calls on its Members and partners around the world to give what they are able. No sum is too small, and pooled across a global membership, even modest contributions can make a real and lasting difference to a community facing a long and demanding recovery.

Donate to the Indonesian Earthquake Relief Fund here

Donate to the Colombian Earthquake Relief Fund here

Sustainable Logistics: Where to begin?

Sustainability is becoming a bigger part of logistics. But with so many new terms, targets and expectations, it is not always easy to know where to begin.

What are logistics emissions, how can they be measured and what can companies do to reduce them?

FIATA and Smart Freight Centre have joined forces to offer the "Fundamentals of Sustainable Logistics", a course designed to make the basics of sustainable logistics clear, practical and accessible. The course explores how to calculate logistics emissions, set science-based targets and identify low-carbon solutions, while also looking at the bigger picture: from the Paris Climate Agreement to the Sustainable Development Goals, and other global sustainability drivers.

The course is introductory and requires no previous knowledge, making it relevant not only for sustainability professionals but for anyone working directly or indirectly with freight, logistics or supply chains. Participants get an introduction to the topics that are shaping the future of freight and logistics.

The course is fully self-paced and can be completed at a time that fits individual schedules.

For questions, please reach out to the FIATA Training Team at [email protected].

Discover the fundamentals of sustainable logistics here!

Road Transport: Developments Concerning the Entry/Exit System and Road Transport in South-Eastern Europe

FIATA is aware of growing concerns among freight forwarding and road transport stakeholders in South-Eastern Europe regarding the application of the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the Schengen short-stay regime to professional drivers from non-European Union territories.

Industry representatives in the region have expressed apprehension that the current framework may create administrative barriers for highly mobile transport professionals, with potential consequences for cross-border operations and supply chain continuity. These concerns have been set out in recent correspondence shared by our Association Members in the region, indicating that, should a mutually acceptable solution not be reached, disruptions to road transport flows between certain Western Balkan territories and the European Union cannot be excluded in the coming weeks.

This matter was also addressed at the joint 2026 FIATA Region Europe Field Meeting held alongside the 16th South-East European Freight Forwarders Association (SEEFF) Congress in Bucharest, Romania, in May 2026, where participating associations adopted a Joint Declaration, available to read in full below, calling on the European Commission and Member States to develop practical and secure solutions for professional drivers, while preserving the integrity of European Union border management and ensuring the resilience of European supply chains.

Read the full Joint Declaration

FIATA, through its Working Group Road, is closely monitoring the situation and will keep its members informed of any developments while assessing what further actions may be appropriate.

2026 FIATA World Congress: Celebrate FIATA's Centenary in Milan

FIATA warmly invites the global freight forwarding and logistics community to the 2026 FIATA World Congress in Milan, from 6 to 9 October 2026. Co-organised with the Federazione Nazionale delle Imprese di Spedizioni Internazionali (FEDESPEDI), this landmark edition marks FIATA's centenary, 100 years as the global voice of freight logistics.

The countdown to Milan is well underway. Seven expert panels, an outstanding line-up of international speakers, unforgettable social events in the very best of Italian hospitality, and a global community of partners and exhibitors await at the sector's most important annual gathering. With the Congress now approaching, delegates are encouraged to secure their place and be part of this historic edition, as FIATA marks 100 years of shaping the future of the sector.

Register Now

With more speakers now confirmed, the programme continues to take shape. FIATA is pleased to present the latest additions to the panel line-up below. Each session will bring together leading voices and industry experts to address the key challenges, opportunities, and trends shaping the sector today.

Discover the panels and experts who will be taking the stage in Milan, and stay tuned for future e-Flash editions as we unveil additional high-level speakers and exciting programme updates.

Panel 1 - The New Supply Chain Landscape: Navigating Fragmentation, Uncertainty and Shifting Trade Flows

The structural conditions that shaped global supply chains over the past two decades are shifting. Manufacturing bases are diversifying, tariff volatility has complicated long-term planning, and cross-border e-commerce continues to place pressure on customs systems and last-mile infrastructure. The focus here is on where genuine growth is materialising and what resilience really means once volatility becomes a permanent feature of the operating environment.

Speakers include:

• Ms Azhar Jaimurzina Ducrest, Chief, Transport Connectivity and Logistics Section, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
• Ms Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary, United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
• Dr Young Tae Kim, Secretary-General, International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD

More speakers to be announced soon!

Panel 2 - Restructuring Multimodal Corridors: Tackling Friction and Bottlenecks

Multimodal corridors are central to the efficiency of international trade, yet their performance depends on an alignment of infrastructure, documentation standards and digital systems that remains hard to achieve in practice. Often the most significant constraints are procedural rather than physical. Drawing on operational experience from active corridors, the discussion turns to what is driving corridor restructuring and where real gains in speed, reliability and cost-efficiency have been made.

Speakers include:

• Mr Miroslaw Antonowicz, Chair of the Committee, Organisation for Co-operation between Railways (OSJD)
• Mr Aleksandr Kuzmenko, Secretary General, Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF)
• Mr Ralf-Charley Schultze, Director General, International Union for Road-Rail Combined Transport (UIRR)
• Mr Vladislav Tsoy, Executive Deputy Director for IT Strategy, JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy
• Ms Alua Satybaldiyeva, Deputy CEO, Global DTC

More speakers to be announced soon!

Panel 3 - Supply Chain in the Digital Age: Cybersecurity, Single Windows and Connected Trade

Ports now operate increasingly as digital environments, with community systems and maritime single windows transforming the flow of information between shipping lines, terminal operators, customs authorities and logistics providers. The efficiency gains are significant, and so is the exposure they introduce, as a single cyber incident can cascade across connected supply chains. The conversation covers the implementation of international frameworks, the state of maritime single window deployment, and the difficulty of bringing smaller operators into ecosystems built around larger actors.

Speakers include:

• Mr Nachi Mendelow, Senior Business Development Executive and Global Customs Domain Owner, CargoWise
• Mr Patrick Verhoeven, Managing Director, International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)

More speakers to be announced soon!

Panel 4 - Customs Reimagined: Turning Tariffs, Data and De Minimis into Strategic Advantage

The customs environment is changing on several fronts at once. Nearshoring is reshuffling origin patterns, tariff volatility is forcing decisions on incomplete information, and the erosion of de minimis thresholds is working its way through air freight and e-commerce. Against a backdrop of rising demands for data submitted faster and in stricter formats, the discussion looks at how businesses are adapting their customs strategies, what freight forwarders should be advising their clients, and how trade facilitation and Authorised Economic Operator frameworks are holding up.

Speakers include:

• Mr Jaime King, Chair of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG)
• Mr Frank J. Desiderio, Partner, GDLSK

More speakers to be announced soon!

Panel 5 - YLP Talk Show

The Young Logistics Professionals Award (YLP), sponsored by TT Club, shines a spotlight on the next generation of logistics talent. Three regional winners will each present their research on practical import and export challenges, before the audience votes to determine the future YLP Global Winner.

Speakers include:

• Ms Mavis Rwodzi, The Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ), Region Africa and the Middle East Winner
• Ms Yu Yang, China International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFA), Region Asia-Pacific Winner
• Mr Ozan Durak, Turkish Forwarding and Logistics Association (UTIKAD), Region Europe Winner

More speakers to be announced soon!

Panel 6 - Sustainability in Logistics: Balancing Climate Ambition with Commercial Survival

Sustainability has moved from a corporate responsibility agenda item to a commercial and regulatory reality, with pressure arriving from shippers, investors, regulators and reporting requirements all at once. The real challenge lies in implementation, particularly for small and medium-sized operators without dedicated sustainability teams. On the table are the sharpest points of regulatory pressure, how businesses of different sizes are approaching decarbonisation, and where the genuine commercial opportunity in sustainable logistics can be found.

Speakers include:

• Ms Sophie Punte, Member of the Board and Founder, Smart Freight Centre
• Ms Marie-Caroline Laurent, Group Senior Vice-President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs, MSC Group
• Dr Liu Fang, Former Secretary-General, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Member, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
• Ms Hannah Nguyen, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Climate, Pacific Environment

More speakers to be announced soon!

Panel 7 - Risk Management, Insurance, Safety and Security: Protecting Operations in a Volatile Trade World

The risk landscape facing freight forwarders has rarely been more complex. Geopolitical instability, extreme weather, cargo theft, cyber incidents and shifting liability frameworks are converging in ways that strain conventional approaches, while insurance markets respond with rising premiums and tighter terms. What worked as a risk strategy three years ago may no longer be adequate, and the discussion weighs where current frameworks are falling short and what best practices are emerging in response.

Speakers include:

• Mr Nicolas Rallo, Regional Director, EUR/NAT Office, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• Ms Alison Wixley, Senior Claims Executive, TT Club
• Mr James Hookham, Director, Global Shippers Forum

More speakers to be announced soon!

Upcoming FIATA Events

• 2026 FIATA World Congress, Milan, Italy: 6-9 October 2026
• 2026 FIATA-Region Africa and the Middle East Field Meeting, Doha, Qatar: 9-10 November 2026
• 2026 FIATA-Region Americas Field Meeting, Cartagena, Colombia: 25-27 November 2026