The National Association of Freight and Logistics (NAFL) discussed the key challenges facing the logistics industry at its key meeting and also urged its members to be prepared for the forthcoming Value Added Tax (VAT) and blockchain technology.

Addressing the gathering at the annual networking event, NAFL president Nadia Abdul Aziz said the association was aiming to raise the freight forwarding standards in the UAE.

“The main reason of this workshop and networking event is to talk about various initiatives of NAFL and exchange experiences. We want to raise freight forwarding standards in the UAE. To achieve this goal, we do training workshops and networking events and many of them are complementary to our members,” she explained.

The NAFL’s annual event was attended by a majority of its members and non-members in addition to representatives of Emirates airline, flydubai, Etihad Airways, Dubai Customs, Dubai Airport, Head of Air Cargo operations, IATA, officials from airlines and United Advocates.

Abdul Aziz urged the members to get the benefits of important industry-related courses being offered by the NAFL.

Top officials from United Advocates, IBM, and Deloitte addressed the networking event and talked about the issues related with VAT and Blockchain and how it will enhance the industry.

She welcomed Abdulla Bin Khediya, who has been appointed as the senior executive co-ordinator between NAFL and Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum’s office, Honorary patron of NAFL.

NAFL has more than 380 members including 20 associate members. The association provides more than 16 quality workshops annually in addition to free lawyer services to its members.

On the VAT issue, Abdul Aziz said: "It is an important topic and NAFL wants its members to be prepared before it becomes effective from January 1, 2018. The blockchain is another area where members should get knowledge."

NAFL, she stated, will also be organising a second event on Vat & Blockchain next month.-TradeArabia News Service