HAFFA and CIFA sign renewed MoU to strengthen logistics collaboration

The Hongkong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics (HAFFA) and the China International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFA) have renewed their partnership with a new five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), effective from August 1, 2025. Signed by HAFFA Chairman Gary Lau and CIFA Secretary-General Cui Jiaguo, the agreement reinforces their ongoing collaboration and sets a strategic framework for advancing member business development through joint activities and a strengthened international logistics alliance.

The renewed MoU upholds existing commitments while introducing new provisions to enhance cross-border collaboration. HAFFA and CIFA will jointly organize delegations and host a series of industry engagements—including meetings, forums, seminars, and conferences—to foster deeper exchange. Through these initiatives, both associations aim to generate greater business opportunities and strengthen connectivity among their members.

HAFFA aims to deepen exchanges with Mainland enterprises and participate in more industry activities to help members keep pace with industry developments. The cooperation will help Hong Kong’s logistics sector benefit from China’s economic growth. Under the current MOU, HAFFA and CIFA will set up a cross-boundary communication platform involving shippers, carriers, airports, ports, and members. The platform will promote improvements in technology, regulations, service quality, information, capital, and talent. The first MOU between HAFFA and CIFA came into effect on August 1, 2020, when it was signed by then HAFFA Chairman Brian Wu and then CIFA Vice President and Secretary-General Li Zhimin.

This initial agreement aimed to strengthen cooperation between the two organisations by creating more commercial opportunities for their members and establishing an influential international logistics alliance. Under the MOU, both associations agreed to set up an exchange platform for representatives to discuss market trends and policies affecting the industry. The agreement also included business cooperation channels to promote inter-member opportunities and to organise meetings, forums, and seminars on major regional initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative. HAFFA was founded in 1966 and sets industry standards and runs training for freight forwarders and logistics providers in Hong Kong. CIFA, based in Beijing since 2000, has worked closely with HAFFA on policy matters, including the introduction of VAT in the Mainland in 2014.