Hanoi, October 8, 2025 – The Europe Today: Việtnam is hosting the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) World Congress 2025 for the first time, a historic milestone for both the country and the global logistics industry. The five-day event, which began on October 8 in Hanoi, brings together over 1,000 delegates from more than 100 countries.
In his keynote address, FIATA President Turgut Erkeskin described the congress as a landmark in the organisation’s century-long history, emphasizing its mission to strengthen international cooperation and accelerate the transformation of global logistics.
Erkeskin highlighted FIATA’s efforts to drive innovation, elevate professional standards, and foster international connectivity. Initiatives such as the launch of a mobile application to simplify container packing standards and the rollout of the electronic bill of lading underscore the organisation’s commitment to building a transparent, sustainable, and digitally empowered logistics ecosystem.
The congress also reaffirmed FIATA’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly gender equality. For the first time, a female executive has been nominated to FIATA’s leadership team, reflecting a move toward greater inclusivity in the freight forwarding sector.
Looking ahead, FIATA plans to adopt international conventions on negotiable transport documents to ensure seamless, secure, and sustainable trade. Erkeskin also announced the upcoming launch of an insured electronic freight bill, designed to help carriers worldwide manage risk and improve access to liability insurance.
The growing role of Việt Nam as a regional logistics hub was acknowledged, with Erkeskin praising the Government’s vision to reduce logistics costs from 18% to 15% of GDP while increasing the sector’s contribution from 10% to 20%. He noted that adopting multimodal transport solutions and digital tools, including electronic documentation, would enable Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises to integrate more deeply into global supply chains.
Chairman of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), Đào Trọng Khoa, expressed pride in hosting the congress during FIATA’s 100th year. “With the theme ‘Green and Resilient Logistics,’ this congress underscores the urgent need to develop a logistics ecosystem that is both sustainable and adaptable to global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions, and technological risks,” he said.
Việt Nam’s logistics sector currently comprises over 45,000 enterprises, including 5,000 international forwarders, with a market size estimated at US$70–80 billion. Khoa described the congress not only as a platform for professional exchange but also as a symbolic bridge connecting Việt Nam to the global logistics community.
The FIATA World Congress 2025 is hosted by VLA in collaboration with FIATA and international partners, and runs alongside an international exhibition in Hà Nội from October 6 to 10.
