- 6th Jun 2024
IFWL 2024 Annual Conference and International Logistics Cooperation and Development Conference were held in Hong Kong, China
Abstract: Nearly 100 people from China, Hong Kong, China and 24 countries around the world attended the conference.
The International Federation of Warehousing and Logistics (IFWL) and the China Association of Warehousing and Distribution (CAWD) held the IFWL 2024 Annual Conference and the International Logistics Cooperation and Development Conference on May 23-24, 2024, at the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel. Meanwhile, the 2nd Global Overseas Hub 50 Forum was held. The conference was presided over by IFWL Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary-General, as well as CAWD President, Shen Shaoji. Legislative Council Member Hon Frankie YICK Chi-ming, GBS, JP from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region attended and delivered a speech. Clare Bottle, Secretary-General of the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA), sent her congratulations via video. CAWD Vice Presidents Li Yongwen, Wang Chunlu, Wu Ximing, and nearly a hundred representatives from warehousing and logistics industry associations, research institutes, and leading companies from China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and 24 countries (including Malaysia, India, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, Jordan, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Russia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Morocco, Niger, Cape Verde, Uganda, Malawi, and Vanuatu) attended the meeting.
Figure 1: Conference Group Photo
Figure 2: Shen Shaoji Hosted at the Scene
Figure 3: Hon Frankie YICK Chi-ming, GBS, JP’s Speech
Figure 4: Congratulatory Message from Clare Bottle, Chief Executive of UKWA
Dr. Wang Guowen, a researcher at the China Development Institute, Associate Professor Yang Peng from Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, and Dr. Li Jiamin, Associate Professor from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, delivered keynote speeches on the disruption of supply chain management by AI, the intelligence of e-commerce warehousing, and the application and innovation of digital technologies in logistics and supply chains. Dr. Wang discussed the scenarios and trends of AI applications in various stages of the supply chain. Professor Yang elaborated on the characteristics of e-commerce warehousing and various intelligent technologies in storage and sorting. Dr. Li spoke about the increased demand for e-commerce logistics in the Industry 4.0-5.0 phases, the importance of building logistics networks based on cloud computing, and the implementation paths. Representatives from the Logistics and Supply Chain Business Association in Cambodia (LOSCBA) and the Development Planning Bureau of the Jordan Ministry of Agriculture introduced the logistics development and related situations in their respective countries. Three executives from Chinese and foreign companies discussed their countries’ development status and cooperation needs. Shen Shaoji chaired the discussion on two international standards of IFWL (draft for comments) and presided over the IFWL Executive Committee meeting.
Figure 5: Dr. Wang Guowen’s Speech
Figure 6: Associate Professor Yang Peng’s Speech
Figure 7: Associate Professor Li Jiamin’s Speech
Figure 8: Speech by the Minister of the Development Planning Department of the Jordan Ministry of Agriculture
Figure 9: Speech by the President of the Logistics and Supply Chain Business Association in Cambodia (LOSCBA)
Shen Shaoji stated that due to the impact of three years of pandemic prevention and control, IFWL had not held an annual meeting or appointed a rotating chairman for four years. Therefore, this conference was organized by the IFWL Secretariat and chaired by him. Despite the absence of annual meetings, since CAWD assumed the secretariat of the alliance in June 2019, significant efforts have been made: registering the alliance in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, maintaining the official website, keeping in touch with old members, developing new members, organizing historical materials, producing promotional videos, conducting research in relevant countries, and drafting standards for the alliance. Shen Shaoji hopes this conference will serve as a bridge to restore and develop the membership, promote standardization, digitization, and intelligent construction of warehousing logistics among member companies, and enhance information exchange and business cooperation among them.
Hon Frankie YICK Chi-ming, GBS, JP emphasized that cooperation is essential for development and that the international warehousing and logistics industry should focus on innovative development and strengthen cooperation between mainland China and Hong Kong.
The IFWL Executive Committee unanimously agreed to formulate two alliance standards: ” Design Parameters and Greening Requirements of General Warehouse ” and ” Requirements for Warehousing Service Quality ” (draft for comments), to be included in the IFWL 2024-2025 standards formulation plan. The meeting initially decided that the IFWL 2025 Annual Conference would be held in Hungary or Turkey in Europe, the 2026 Annual Conference in South Africa, Tanzania, or Niger in Africa, and the 2027 Annual Conference in Cambodia in Asia. Representatives of member associations and related countries were encouraged to communicate and invite candidates for rotating chairman and first vice-chairman. The head of the Cambodia Logistics and Supply Chain Business Association expressed interest in serving as the second vice-chairman, pending formal confirmation after returning home.
Figure 10: Site Photo
The 2nd Global Overseas Hub 50 Forum was held concurrently, where leaders from major overseas warehouses shared their development status, analyzed industry development trends and issues, and reached a consensus on industry self-regulation and development trends. (Detailed conference information and forum consensus to be published separately).