Clear bottlenecks faster, says ACFA

by Elmo Leonard

The Association of Clearing and Forwarding Agents (ACFA) numbering 100 members says that documentation takes up 20 percent of their time, while the other operations of clearing and forwarding, consume 80 percent of time.

Chairman ACFA, M. S. M. Niyas speaking at its 20th AGM said that during the past year the association had been in the forefront of many development projects that had been undertaken by various authorities. ACFA had also spearheaded the efforts of implementing the Automated Cargo Clearance System in Sri Lanka. Although the speed at which this is happening needs reckoning, "at least a start has been made," he said.

While international trade is being facilitated and supply chain pipelines have been relatively cleared of bottlenecks in many countries, in Sri Lanka this process of change takes place at a very slow rate, Niyas said.

ACFA, as a responsible association will contribute its utmost to ensure that all stakeholders in the supply chain will benefit from engaging in international business, he said. ACFA had continued to maintain relations with the International Federation of Customs Brokers (IFCBA) based in Canada, in its bid to be educated on the latest developments that are taking place around the world. The knowledge gathered thus is passed on to its membership and other relevant statutory bodies, Niyas said.

ACFA had also kept constant contact with similar trade associations in other countries so that the local association could learn more about the latest developments in the networking. Niyas had visited the Japan Customs Brokers' Association and the Japanese had accepted an invitation to visit Sri Lanka in June next year, when a convention will take place in Colombo, he said.

ACFA has had continuous dialogues with Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Board of Investment, South Asia Gateway Terminal, Sri Lanka Standards Institution and other government bodies. Niyas said that, ACFA "Had been successful in suggesting remedial measures to eliminate unnecessary delays in our clients supply chains and increasing productivity in their supply chains."

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