Maintaining a proper balance between security and facilitation
GEA, Ian Impey, director facilitation

Faced with increasing demands for enhancing the security of the international trade supply chain, how can the authorities and economic operators best work together to maximise supply-chain security and at the same time facilitate the cross-border movement of legitimate goods? The speaker will highlight those measures and mechanisms that, when applied in combination, can help all stakeholders realise these apparently opposing objectives.

AEO – will it deliver supply-chain security?
Association of International Courier and Express Services (AICES), Joe O’Connor, customs consultant

Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status is designed enable businesses to have their consignments fast-tracked through customs controls. The main benefits of AEO status will not be realised until the requirements for pre-arrival and pre-departure are introduced in July 2009. Joe O’Connor questions whether the proposed system really will deliver supply-chain security.

Unlocking the huge potential of the parcels market
IG&H, Mirjam Karmiggelt, director logistics and trade

The parcel market shows huge potential. Growing volumes, shifting client focus from retailer towards end user, shifting volumes from B2B towards B2C, and new volumes in C2C all require a different customer approach. But some questions arise: who is sourcing the last mile, what is the position of distribution companies in the sell-to-deliver chain, who is delivering a broad and international ‘to consumer’ service and what are the new business models? This presentation will provide some insight into how to unlock the huge potential of the parcels market.

The CEP segment is in a state of upheaval but e-commerce continues to drive the parcels market
A.T. Kearney GmbH, Dr Walter Maderner, principal

After years of strong growth for courier, express and parcel services, forecasts for the next three years assume a slight downturn. The constant growth in logistical flows is influenced by pressure on prices. Even though opportunities are opening up in the growth of e-commerce, the primary task for CEP providers in the coming years is to tighten up market positioning and service provision, and to strictly control costs to compensate for price pressure and increases in factor costs.

Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) update for the express industry
KPMG LLP (UK), Matthew Paul Clark, manager, customs, excise and international trade team

Security regulations for the transport and logistics industries have been significantly tightened in recent years. The EU Authorised Economic Operator regulation was implemented across the EU on 1 January 2008 and is a supply-chain security accreditation system run by HM Revenue & Customs, or the appropriate customs authority in other EU member states. Matthew Clark will give an update on the AEO system, predict the impacts and benefits for the express industry and highlight the problematic areas in gaining accreditation.