Overview of the 2nd Sino-International Freight Forwarders Conference

As a follow up to the very successful 1st Sino-Foreign Forwarders Conference, which took place in Beijing from June 23-26, 2004, co-organizers China International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFA) and China Global Logistics Network (CGLN) announced at January 7, 2005 that the second conference would be held June 8-11, 2005 in Dalian, China. CIFA operates under the auspices of the China Ministry of Commerce, the governmental authority responsible for the freight forwarding industry in China. CGLN is part of the World Cargo Alliance Family of Logistic Networks, the world's leading association of independent international freight forwarders with over 1000 members in 120 countries.

More than 750 cargo transportation providers were expected to attend the event. The conference was designed as a platform for small and medium sized Chinese forwarders to interact with foreign counterparts, promoting the development of the freight forwarding industry in China. Forwarding executives from over 75 countries were represented.

The conference's agenda focused on the expanding China market and how independent forwarders can better exploit opportunities there with the majority of conference time devoted to networking and partnering with Chinese forwarders seeking relationships with qualified international partners. The agenda featured presentations on how to do business in China and tipped on identifying the best partners in China. Chinese forwarders were provided with information on how to work with international partners on business development and learned about economical software solutions and electronic data-exchange platforms being designed expressly for China logistics providers.

CIFA and CGLN were collaborating for the second time on this event and just recently concluded negotiations that resulted in CIFA agreeing to become CGLN's exclusive agent in China. A new CGLN branch office was soon be opened in Beijing to complement the one currently operating in Shanghai. CGLN also had offices in Bangkok Thailand, Miami USA, and Bremen Germany.

David Yokeum had been involved in freight forwarder networking for over 15 years, dedicating himself to help advance the interests of small and medium sized international freight forwarders. His efforts had been written about in the leading trade publications and he was considered the foremost authority on logistics networks.