Chairman of Middle East and Africa Region at FIATA: Logistic Industry Faces Critical Period amid Geopolitical Shifts

Milan, October 12 (QNA) - HE Eng. Ali bin Abdullatif Al Misnad, Board Member of Qatar Chamber, Chairman of the Middle East and Africa Region (RAME) at the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), said that the logistic industry faces a critical period as geopolitical shifts and route disruptions pressure on global supply chains and global trade.

He made the remarks in his opening address at the FIATA RAME Meeting, held in Milan, Italy, alongside the FIATA World Congress 2026, with the participation of key stakeholders from the regional freight forwarding and logistics sector.

Al Misnad noted that this year's RAME Meeting gains special significance as it coincides with FIATA's centenary celebrations, stressing that a century of facilitating global trade has demonstrated that the resilience of the freight forwarding and logistics sector rest on four key pillars: cooperation, innovation, preparedness, and trust.

Addressing the challenges facing the sector, Al Misnad, who is also President of the Qatar Association for Freight Forwarding and Logistics (QAFL), pointed out that recent regional tensions have caused significant disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and other key transport routes, affecting shipping operations, freight rates, trade flows, and the movement of essential goods.

He emphasized the urgent need for agile logistics networks, highlighting how Qatar's strategic investments in world-class infrastructure, connectivity, and digital transformation have strengthened its logistic resilience and ensured trade continuity.

He also underscored that deepening regional connectivity, accelerating digital customs, developing human capital, and expanding industry-wide collaboration are vital to building an efficient and resilient logistics ecosystem across the Middle East and Africa.

Al Misnad highlighted the upcoming FIATA RAME Meeting and Logistics Exhibition in Doha, which Qatar Chamber, through QAFL, will host. The event, originally scheduled for 9-10 November 2026, has been rescheduled to the first quarter of 2027 due to current regional circumstances.

He invited FIATA representatives and regional stakeholders to attend the Doha meeting and build on the dialogue initiated in Milan, further strengthening regional cooperation and advancing the freight forwarding and logistics sector. (QNA)