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During an official visit to the FIATA headquarters in Geneva, FIATA Secretary General Dr. Stéphane Graber and the FIATA team welcomed the Director of SPEDLOGSWISS, Thomas Schwarzenbach, and the Manager for Customs and Freight Forwarding, Tom Odermatt. The exchange aimed to deepen the collaboration between the two organizations and covered a variety of topics.
A central point of the discussions was the legal issue surrounding the Negotiable Cargo Document (NCD) Convention, which was adopted by the United Nations in December 2025. FIATA actively supported the adoption of this document, which is significant for Switzerland and other landlocked countries. Andrea Tang, Director of the Legal Department at FIATA, provided an overview of the convention and the associated expectations for SPEDLOGSWISS, particularly regarding collaboration with Swiss authorities.
Focus on Training and Continuing Education
Another important aspect of the discussion was training. Sofia Aiche, Head of Training and Programs at FIATA, spoke about the apprenticeship offerings from SPEDLOGSWISS as well as the awarding of the FIATA diploma. The discussions also included alignment with FIATA’s minimum standards and SPEDLOGSWISS’s participation in the Young Logistics Professionals (YLP) Award. It was agreed that the Head of Training and Programs would visit Basel in the near future to further strengthen the cooperation between FIATA and SPEDLOGSWISS.
Additionally, the future representation and involvement of SPEDLOGSWISS within FIATA were addressed. The Secretary General emphasized the importance of institutional representation and the active participation of member associations in the strategic direction of FIATA. An update on FIATA governance was provided, highlighting the role of the FIATA Extended Board as an advisory forum. This body is responsible for coordinating FIATA’s activities and programs and plays a central role in developing new ideas and initiatives.
Communication and Future Initiatives
The discussions also led to considerations for improving communication cooperation between FIATA and SPEDLOGSWISS to enhance the visibility of FIATA’s work within the Swiss logistics community. The communication officers of both organizations will collaborate in the coming weeks to develop concrete communication initiatives.
FIATA expressly thanks Thomas Schwarzenbach for his long-standing commitment and support. Although he will step down from his position as Director of SPEDLOGSWISS in July, his contributions to the organization are highly valued. FIATA particularly acknowledges his role in preparing a smooth transition to his successor to ensure that FIATA and SPEDLOGSWISS, which was among the founding members of FIATA in 1926, can continue to respond to changing global expectations and business practices.
