As has been well reported throughtout the air cargo media, the industry has responded magnificently as always.

Whenever there is a disaster, natural or man made, this hard pressed and often maligned sector of the transport industry invariably puts its neck on the line to save lives.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone who is supporting this action, and hope that 2010 will be a more positive year.

Thanks to its strategic position at the heart of Germany’s most active and dynamic business region, Düsseldorf International Airport has become increasingly top choice for passengers and cargo. The airport regularly serves around 185 destinations worldwide, by far the most comprehensive in Northern Germany. With this many routes available, including North and South America, the Middle and Far East and Africa, it is the ideal choice for cargo customers, seeking rapid transit solutions for imports and exports. Germany’s third largest airport, located on the North-South and East-West axis, serves a market of over 18 million high income residents, living within a radius of 100 kilometers. With the Dutch border just 60 kilometers away, the Benelux market is also easily accessed especially by cargo customers whose Netherlands based operations are saving not only transit time and cost, but also reducing ever more critical CO2 emissions.

There is a large and highly active group of freight forwarders at the cargo centre serving the busy industrial and distribution sector.. Over 22% of Germany’s GDP as well as 20% of export volume, originates in North Rhine Westphalia, of which Düsseldorf is the distribution nerve centre and State Capital.

In addition to the unrivalled belly hold capacity which accounts for 90% of all cargo at Düsseldorf, the airport also enjoys an excellent track record as a Freighter Friendly hub, regularly handling scheduled, charters and ad hoc flights. The airport can handle all kinds of freighters, narrow and wide bodied including B747, A310 or AN 124.. Even with a curfew between 22.00-6am, nearly all operators’ needs can be accommodated with experienced and skilled teams at hand.

India is regarded as a most important and expanding market. The business links to the power house of Europe will certainly be developed in the near future. Düsseldorf’s vital industrial community is keen to develop more business links with Indian partners. The cargo management team at Düsseldorf always cooperates closely in partnership with forwarders and their shippers.

We are delighted to sponsor this exciting event and feel sure that there will be great potential for doing business with the many Indian based airlines, GSAs and forwarders and shippers whom we are looking forward to meeting at this show.

As part of its strategy of streamlining the processes within its freight division,The airport cargo committee (ACCC), led by Alexios Sioris and his team, defined Customs as one area of potential improvement. During 2008 veteran Customs expert, Georgios Vitos joined the group to suggest solutions for not only improving the flow of both import and export traffic, but to bring Athens in line with Greece’s EU colleagues and competitors. He has spent some 35 years in the Greek Customs service both at home and in Brussels and brings a wealth of experience to bring to the table.

“The structure of the Customs administration in the framework of the general public administration is rather cumbersome. Its challenge is to balance the relationship of protecting state interests with the needs of commercial operators. Customs officials try to control every action during the working process resulting in a great deal of detailed work for Customs officials and disproportionate pressure on commercial operators. The high volume of community legislation, is combined with an old-fashioned system of training and methods. From the shippers; point of view, processes sometimes take too long and lack transparency.

“As far as other countries are concerned, I don’t know the Customs of all countries that well, but from those that I have visited and from the experience I’ve had during my work in the permanent representation of Greece to the European Union, I think Netherlands probably has the most efficient Customs administration evolving efficient systems of control without increasing the formalities to business customers. I am confident that we can learn from our neighbours with simplified procedures.

Furthermore, the introduction of advanced electronic declaration under the rules of World Customs Organisation (WCO) will force more efficiency into the global process. Already adopted by the USA, as the main initiating country, followed by Canada and India, EU countries should apply these rules from 1st July 2009, but due to the time needed to install the systems, the start date has been postponed to the 1st of January 2011. All main countries and Customs unions of the world will apply these rules that will strengthen the safety and security of the international trade.

“I think commercial operators dealing with Customs must master the legislation, and insist on the application of modern working methods. The modernisation of Customs operational framework is not just the responsibility of Customs administration only, the private sector must participate actively. It will require a joint team approach to really create a smooth and seamless traffic flow through our national airport, if we can achieve this, the future potential for Greece is enormous.”

Alexios Sioris, manager of cargo development reports that at the end of year review 6 out of 16 various issues have been resolved, mainly thanks to contributions from Georgios Vitos working closely with the joint cargo committee. Relations Customs and the operators are working well.