Da Nang (VNA) – The ASEAN Federation ꦗofForwarders Associations (AFFA) Mid-Year 2023 conference opened in the central coastal city of Da Nang on July 15 to discuss measure♏s to create favourableconditions for trans-border logistics and human resources development, while promoting digitalisationin the field of logistics in the region.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Assistant to Ministerof Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang said the global logistics industry isentering to a recovery period, overcoming difficulties caused by the COVID-19 and conflictsin the world with an estimated growth rate of 4% in 2023 and 3% in 2024. Notably, Asia-Pacific region is considered as the mostdynamic developing region and expecting to become a growth drive of the globaleconomy by 2025. Hang acknowledged that Vietnam’s logistics industry hasenjoyed an impressive growth with a rate of up to 16%,, ranking in the top 10 in the Emerging Markets LogisticsIndex. Logistics is considered as an important service sector in Vietnam’s economy;therefore, the country wishes to expand collaboration with ASEAN member statesto develop the industry on a global scale in a green and sustainable orientation. Alvin Chua, Chairman of the AFFA, said despite many difficulties, associations and enterprises need to promote digitalisation andsustainable growth. The sustainability and Digitalisation Working Group(S&D) of the AFFA will start working from the conference. Somsak Wisetruangrot, Chairman of AFFA LogisticsInstitute, ephasised that ASEAN countries need to pay attention in high qualityhuman resources training and strengthen experience, knowledge sharing, trainingcourses to improve human resources quality in the coming time.

Edwin Chee, Managing Director of SLP Vietnam CompanyLimited, said favourable geographical position will help businesses investing in Vietnam significantly reduce logisticscosts. As a result, Vietnam is becoming more attractive to FDI investors andglobal third-party logistics service providers.

He stressed that Vietnam needs to soon establish a new transshipment port that canenhance thecountry's connectivity withinternational markets, facilitate the flow of goods, reduce transit time, andimprove efficiency of overall outcome of the supply chain.

AFFA, established inDecember 1991, is a regional intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 Southeast Asia💮n nations which promotes freight forwarding throughintergovernmenta♕l cooperation and facilitates cargo transport./.