The China Cargo Alliance completed its 2nd annual
conference in Shanghai in mid-January on a successful note with
some 130 delegates in attendance.
For three days, 47 ‘International’ forwarders operating
in 45 countries and 32 Chinese Class-A or NVOCC forwarders operating
in all parts of China met and set plans for generating business
with partners for the new year.
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| The Group Picture |
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enlarge) |
At the gala ‘get-to-know-you’ dinner opening in the
Shanghai Hilton Hotel, Frank Naeve, the Lufthansa Cargo General
Sales Manager handed out the number one top prize of the lucky draw,
a sponsored business class ticket to Europe.
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The Lucky Draw-Grand Prize
from
Mr. Frank Naeve of Lufthansa |
The morning session of Day One featured the CCA executives describing
progress since the previous conference (held at Shenzhen in autumn
2002), and outlining future directions. The afternoon of Day One
was set aside for new delegates to make a five-minute presentation
of their firm’s activities to the assembled members.
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| The Opening Ceremony |
Participants could then sign up for half- hour, face-to-face meetings
over Days Two and Three as the conference hall was reconfigured with
a series of meeting tables. In essence, everyone got a chance to size
up everyone else, exchange contact details and - most importantly
- to set plans for generating business with new partners. Social events
each evening allowed delegates to further explore potential business
relationships.
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| The Bilateral Meeting |
So what did participants think of our conference? Please see
the following report prepared by Mr. Rick Erickson, specialised freight
journalist of Cargovision- one of the world's premier air cargo journals
published by KLM CARGO
Mischa de Boer from Amsterdam was bullish, noting “I
like the professionalism of the Chinese agents . . . they are very
proactive, approachable, and keen to do business”. Dutch
colleague Joost Dortwegt said, “it is a unique opportunity
to find an agent in each region of China. This makes our company
better able to compete with the large multinational forwarders”.
Craig Abbott of Auckland-based Tri-Star International was frank:
“we need to get our act together in New Zealand if we want
to be taken seriously as knowledgeable and experienced China traders
- that is why I am here.” Ashwin Didwania from Bombay
recognized that “even in India, we are swamped with
Chinese products. We want to join in this trade”.
Vitor Sanches of Pinto Basto Gest based in Lisbon had an interesting
rationale for attending. “We have many Portuguese
shippers, who through my country’s colonial interests in Macau,
are keen to do business in China. This conference will permit our
company to gain that entry”. Siddique Khan from Kazahkstan
also had a broader goal, “we are just as keen to develop
links with other international delegates here, as we are at making
inroads into China”.
Chinese forwarders were also positive about the conference. Wang
Yi Sheng from Inner Mongolia Diamond Combined Transport in Neimenggu
noted, “it is very difficult to find good business
partners outside of China . . . travelling to meet new colleagues
is not easy, very expensive, and takes time . . . this conference
lets me spend one weekend and find many new partners”.
Sherry Huang of Ningbo Huanji International Forwarding observed,
“I can see that we surprised many of our international friends
with our extensive internal accounting, communications and service
practices. That is how you must do business in the new China, if
you want to succeed”.
The next CCA business development event will be held in Beijing,
likely in November. Further details can be found on the CCA website
– www.chinacargoalliance.com
once the dates have been finalized.
The Group is open to welcome new members.
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