Air Cargo Week - Associations
April 19, 2010
Last month (March), the Houston-based IFLN (International Freight & Logistics Network) Group of freight forwarders marked its first 10 years in existence with its annual conference held on the cruise liner MSC Fantasia.
As well as a celebration of what IFLN president Michel Vanlerberghe describes as a decade of “success and achievement”, the event – held while cruising in the Mediterranean – was an opportunity for the network’s 170 or so Members to develop new strategies and collaborate “to the benefit of both big and small shippers”.
According to Vanlerberghe, 2009 was “a challenging year that put many companies in our industry to the test. But we are very pleased to see that overall the Members of the IFLN family lived through the crisis (some of them even managed to increase their turnover), only to come out better prepared and stronger to meet the challenge of a new decade.”
IFLN is helping its Members where it can. One tool it is currently putting the finishing touches to is its database populated with Members’ profiles, presented by specialization and includes fields relating to such issues as key strengths, equipment and specification, licenses and certificates held, and details of the recent projects in which each forwarder has been involved.
On the subject of the value of a freight forwarder network, questioned perhaps by some, he explained: “There is an absolute need for medium-sized independent companies to be part of a well-structured global alliance.
“The IFLN’s ultimate goal is to strengthen the network and create an environment with active, well-established and like-minded companies that enables the Members to compete and acquire new business on a regional or global basis.”
Looking forward, Vanlerberghe added: “One of our main objectives for our development and success is to continue to introduce the IFLN Group to potential multinational customers and demonstrate that IFLN Members not only have the local knowledge, but also offer first-class service through a system of worldwide alliances.”