HAFFA and CIFA renew MOU to boost logistics ties

The Hongkong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics (HAFFA) and the China International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFA) have signed a new five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue and strengthen their partnership.

The agreement, signed by HAFFA Chairman Gary Lau and CIFA Secretary-General Cui Jiaguo, will take effect from August 1, 2025, and aims to expand business development for members through joint events and an international logistics alliance.

The renewed MOU maintains the previous terms and adds new provisions to support cross-border cooperation. Both associations plan to organise delegations and hold meetings, forums, seminars, and conferences to encourage industry exchange. They hope these activities will create more business opportunities for their members.

Commenting on the signing, HAFFA Chairman Gary Lau said, “Our association has maintained a close collaboration with CIFA over the years, with both of us working together in a spirit of mutual trust and support to promote the sustainable development of the logistics industry. The renewal of the MOU can further consolidate our cooperation foundation, as well as open up more cross-border collaboration opportunities for members in both regions.”

He added that HAFFA aims to deepen exchanges with Mainland enterprises and participate in more industry activities to help members keep pace with industry developments. He also noted that the cooperation will help Hong Kong’s logistics sector benefit from China’s economic growth.

Under the current MOU, HAFFA and CIFA will set up a cross-boundary communication platform involving shippers, carriers, airports, ports, and members. The platform will promote improvements in technology, regulations, service quality, information, capital, and talent.

The first MOU between HAFFA and CIFA came into effect on August 1, 2020, when it was signed by then HAFFA Chairman Brian Wu and then CIFA Vice President and Secretary-General Li Zhimin.

This initial agreement aimed to strengthen cooperation between the two organisations by creating more commercial opportunities for their members and establishing an influential international logistics alliance. Under the MOU, both associations agreed to set up an exchange platform for representatives to discuss market trends and policies affecting the industry.

The agreement also included business cooperation channels to promote inter-member opportunities and to organise meetings, forums, and seminars on major regional initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

HAFFA was founded in 1966 and sets industry standards and runs training for freight forwarders and logistics providers in Hong Kong. CIFA, based in Beijing since 2000, has worked closely with HAFFA on policy matters, including the introduction of VAT in the Mainland in 2014.