Delegates included representatives of CAAS, CAG, Ministry of Transport (MOT), Singapore Customs (SC), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Police Force (Airport Police Division), SPRING Singapore, Singapore Aircargo Agents Association (SAAA) and ground handling agents SATS Ltd and dnata Singapore Pte Ltd. The programme was also attended by executives of E-freight@NL, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Cargo team, Aviapartner, local Singapore Airlines staff and the Dutch Customs organization.
The intensive programme included presentations by CAAS, CAG, Dutch Customs, Air Cargo Netherlands and Amsterdam Connecting Trade. Topics included developments at Changi and Schiphol, and an update on Smartgate. Discussion panels examined the progress of e-freight implementation, and traded ideas on accelerating take-up to enable the industry to enjoy the benefits of e-freight. Delegates visited various locations around the airport to see e-freight, Smartgate and E-link in action, meeting key personnel on site to hear their experiences and views first-hand.
Says Schiphol Cargo's Director ' Business Development, Saskia van Pelt: 'e-freight shipments through Schiphol have almost quadrupled in a year, but we are still talking ten percent of total cargo traffic on e-freight-ready trade lanes. We have made solid progress, but we still have a long way to go.'
'We are probably ahead in implementation and processes right now, but Singapore has done a lot more work in researching the cost savings and benefits that e-freight could bring to the industry. We look forward to the results of this research, which will be invaluable in helping us accelerate the adoption of e-freight.'
Adds Doris Song, Assistant Director, Air Cargo & Logistics, CAAS, 'Initial results from our studies have shown clear cost savings and other benefits from e-freight. By adopting e-freight, the various stakeholders in the industry will certainly realize benefits to their business. We are happy to be working with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and their partners to promote the adoption of e-freight by the industry, especially for the trade lanes between Singapore and Europe and beyond.'
Schiphol now has eleven airlines operating e-freight, up from just four in 2010.
e-freight users also include local handling agents and logistics service providers. The recently-launched e-freight Online Academy now has over 200 users.
