The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) have taken steps to intensify their cooperation to optimize the efficiency and security of international air cargo, a sector that is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 4.2 per cent through to 2032.
Their new agreement is outlined in a communiqué resulting from the 28th International Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition (ACF 2016) that was convened in Paris by TIACA and which took place from 26 to 28 October 2016.
It builds on a variety of previous agreements that ICAO has undertaken with international bodies on the challenges faced by the air cargo network as it expands.
In her remarks to the air cargo experts assembled at the event, ICAO’s secretary general, Dr. Fang Liu said her oranisation’s shared objective with TIACA is to improve regulatory and procedural efficiencies and expedite cargo movements for all global citizens and businesses.
“The importance of air cargo to the global economy is clearly established, in particular its role in facilitating the delivery of high-value goods, just-in-time freight operations, and growing e-commerce activities,” she said
She stressed the importance of ensuring proper implementation of the modernized regulatory framework that has resulted from ICAO’s cooperation with air cargo industry organizations over the past several years.
She highlighted the implementation of ICAO and TIACA’s Cargo Service Quality Index for measuring cargo performance at the airport level, the need to stay aligned on emerging challenges such as lithium-ion battery shipments, big-data and e-commerce, and TIACA’s offer to assist ICAO with cargo industry training and certification.
