Stéphane Graber (PhD) is the first Director General of FIATA to visit Ethiopian Freight Forwarders and Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA), Association member of FIATA.
The DG visited Addis Abeba for two main reasons. The first is to take part in the 2023 FIATA Air Cargo Global Program meeting. This meeting, which has never taken place in a FIATA member state previously, is being organized by the Airfreight Institute (AFI) of FIATA.
The second purpose of Dr. Graber’s visit to Ethiopia is intended to assess Ethiopia’s capabilities and hold conversations with pertinent government representatives as Ethiopia bids to host the FIATA World Congress (FWC) and the 100th anniversary celebration of FIATA in Addis Abeba in 2026. Our association qualified to the final round along with national associations from England and Italy, and we are currently awaiting the results.
Accordingly, Dr. Stéphane Graber and the EFFSAA Board of Directors had in-depth conversations with the top officials of numerous government bureaus.
On Wednesday July 26, 2023, the Director General, who was present at our association’s secretariat office and discussed with the members of the Executive Board of EFFSAA, also discussed with the Director General of the Ethiopian Maritime Authority, Ato Abdulber Shemsu, and Strategic Advisor of the Authority, Mengist Hailemariam (PhD).
In a meeting on Thursday, July 27, 2023, held with the Minister of Ministry of Tourism, Ambassador Nassise Chali, the State Minister of the Ministry of Tourism, Ato Sileshi Girma, and other senior Ministry officials, the Director General gained an understanding of Ethiopia’s experience in successfully hosting international conferences.
On the same day, Dr. Stéphane and EFFSAA BoD met Ato Siraj Abdullahi, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Freight Forwarding Sector of the Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics with a group of senior officials of ESL and discussed about the FIATA Bill of Lading and related issues. After this meeting, Dr. Stéphane visited the African Union.
On Friday July 28, 2023, in the meeting hall of the association’s office, the Director General of FIATA, Dr. Stéphane Graber who gave a press conference together with the Air Freight Institute Chairman and Vice President of EFFSAA, Ato Dawit Woubishet, explained to the media in detail about the meeting of FIATA Air Cargo Global Program 2023.
On the same day, he discussed with the Deputy Commissioner of Customs Commission Ato Mulugeta Beyene and State Minister of Transport and Logistics, Ato Denge Boru, about issues related to the logistics sector and the 2026 FIATA World Congress hosting as well. In their discussion with the Customs Commission, in addition to the issues of hosting FWC, Dr. Graber made a detailed explanation about the FIATA Bill of Lading and also reached an agreement to carry out a pilot project in Ethiopia.
All the government offices that participated in the discussion confirmed their readiness to provide all necessary support and cooperation to EFFSAA & FIATA, for the 2026 FIATA World Congress, if EFFSAA gets the chance to host this prestigious event in Addis Abeba.
Ethiopian Freight Forwarders and Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA) is grateful of all the offices that have cooperated so much to make this fruitful discussion schedule possible.
