New Year Message from Chairwoman

Dear UFO Family,
 
It is time to say goodbye to year 2009 and welcome a brand new year 2010!
 
Without doubt, the past 12 months have proved to be a challenging year for our industry. For many businesses, it was their most difficult year, for many more (especially those who did not have the support of a worldwide network) 2009 was their last.
 
However, in spite of the recession, we continued to grow and our ISO 9001:2000 certified network now stands at 120 independent freight forwarders located in 107 countries (view Location Map). 

 

Not surprisingly really, as the economic climate dictates that well-connected freight forwarders will ultimately ride the current storm more successfully than companies which stand alone.
 
We are very proud of our Members who worked hard all year to ensure that they continued to sustain and build their companies.

 

Here is just a small selection of good news from 2009 (click title to read) ...

• Two UFO Offices Save World Championship
• UFO Yemen new GSA for Saudi Airlines
• Good news from UFO South Korea
• Special 'Scroll' from UFO Romania
• UFO Canada move oversize crane
• UFO Guinea receive praise from USAID
• Lufthansa Nominate UFO Germany office
• UFO Albania win Award in Geneva
• UFO Malaysia in-house Logistics Agent
• Partnerships created within UFO

In June, we were delighted to welcome our new Office Manager, Judith Mellett who took on the day to day UFO Head Office administrative responsibilities and word of our successful network spread as we appeared in trade magazines, and industry exhibitions including Port Security Conference (Spain), ACED (China), Baltic Sea Freight Market & Ports 2009 Exhibition (Russia), Counter Terror Expo (England), Air Freight Asia (Hong Kong), Gulf Maritime (Dubai), and many more.
 
The 2009 highlight for me personally was our fantastic meeting in Cambodia, where we welcomed over 100 UFO family members and developed a closer-knit framework upon which to build our future together. Read more.

 

 

As well as monthly updates through our Inside UFO newsletters, we also enhanced our membership benefits by developing and launching new tools including:

• New UFO World Maps launched
• New Marketing Brochure: unique membership benefit
• Launch of Payment Monitoring System
• UFO Track and Trace system

Now as we look forward, we must recognise that the economic recovery and further growth of our companies is dependent upon taking a more educated and informed view of our business practices.
 
Providing excellent service, communication and exchanging only honest, net net rates will guarantee you increased and repeat business within UFO.  But we must also continue to look at tightening expenses and be very careful before extending credit to customers ...
 
So, though uncertainty remains as we enter 2010, if we work hard and persevere together we will continue to sustain our reputation as a strong, prosperous global network of top companies.
 
As well as prosperity, I also wish you and your families, good health and happiness for the New Year and 2010.

 

Please print our 2010 Calendar (with our meeting dates already blocked for you!).

 

See you in Greece!
 
Kind regards,

 

RACHEL HUMPHREY
Chairwoman

Email: rachel@universalfreightorg.com