An Interview With Honourary Chairman

Why and how the TAFA was formed?

Why, there has always been general recognition among the people concerned with the airfreight sector that there was a need for such an association. It must be appreciated that air transportation has are increasingly important part in the international trade and commerce.
It is imperative that unity and cooperation among the airfreight forwarding agents must at all times be maintained. Only the unity and cooperation can achieve common objective of prosperity and well being of all the airfreight forwarding agents.

Only the united effort and cooperative of the agents can provide satisfactory standard of services by regulating and up-grading the services to the benefit of all concerned.

The united association of airfreight forwarding agents will be a force to be reckoned with in negotiations with the airlines, authorities and institutions for the purpose of efficient and profitable operation of the airfreight forwarding.

When, I recall that, way back in October 1983, the Sales Manager of Thai Airways International, Khun Kawin Asawachatroj, organized a meeting with several leading airfreight agents and urged all those present that it was time for all agents to come face with one another and to put in concerted and constructive efforts to enhance the efficiency and economy of airfreight operations thereby contributing towards the export drive by the Government.

This first meeting was followed up by another meeting, also initiated by the key personnel of Thai Airways International including Khun Kawin, Khun Chessada and Khun Vijarn, This time, the meeting was further strengthened and supported by the members of the Orient Airlines Association, It was attended by 21 agents and the meeting unanimously adopted the resolution to form an association of agents what is now known as the "Thai Airfreight Forwarders Association" or TAFA with Khun Kanit Smithivas of Tour Royale Air Cargo as the first Chairman or the Association. We are all grateful to Thai Airways International for the initiation and foresight, in particular to Khun Kawin who is now the Director of Cargo & Mail.

The Objectives are :

1. To achieve optimum in efficiency and economy in providing airfreight forwarding services to exports and imports.
2. To make representation to the Government and regulation authorities to achieve efficiency and prompt procedures in inspection and documentation particularly in respect of export cargo.
3. To establish and regulation standard codes of practice.
4. To organize regular and frequency meeting among the members to discuss the problems and ways and means of improving the services.

What are the requirements for the membership of the Association ?

For obvious reasons, the requirements have to be simple with equal opportunity to all bonfire agents, The requirements at present are :

1. The agent must have a minimum of 2.0 million bath in paid-up capital.
2. The agent must have a continuous operating experience of application.

These requirements may have to be revised or updated from time to time to be in line-with changing conditions and other circumstances which may be deemed relevant for such revisions.

Khun Kanit being the founding Chairman, he was responsible for putting in motion the activity of the Association and performing initial tasks of the Association. How much progress has been achieved under your Chairmanship?

Khun Kanit had done a great deal of ground work in those early days and we are all grateful to him for his contributions. Most of the objectives were achieved during his tenure as the Chairman. My task has been to maintain the progress and improve upon it.

The Association was consulted and it provided the Airports Authority of Thailand with valuable advice in the planning and provisions of cargo facilities of the Air Cargo Terminal to meet the demands expected in the immediate and distant future.

The Association was also privileged to be invited in June 1985 by the NESDB to provide necessary information, data and forecasts on the Airfreight Sector for the purpose of the sixth National Development Plan for purpose of planning to develop the Bangkok International Airport into a regional air freight transit center, Achievement was also recorded in that the Customs now operate on 24 hours basis at the urging and request of the Association.

The Customs formalities are also simplified to achieve speed and efficiency in Customs procedures, The cooperation and understanding of H.M. Customs are greatly appreciated by the Association. For this cooperation, the Association also assumes certain moral responsibilities in ensuring that the conduct and practices of the member agents are within the limits of acceptable professional code of conduct.

The Association arrange educational courses and seminars at various levels to ensure that the staff and operatives of members agents are competent and that they function as part of a single organization.