The Hongkong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics (HAFFA) announced that it has once again signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the China International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFA) to continue and reinforce their long-standing close partnership on international logistics.
The memorandum of understanding, effective August 1, 2025, builds on the previous agreement while adding new provisions to support member business development.
Both organizations are exploring joint delegation opportunities to attend and participate in industry events—such as meetings, forums, seminars, and conferences—hosted by either party with the goal to strengthen industry exchange, generate new commercial opportunities for members, and lay the groundwork for a broader international logistics alliance.
HAFFA Chairman Gary Lau and CIFA Secretary-General Cui Jiaguo signed the MoU.
"Our association has maintained a close collaboration with CIFA over the years, with both of us working together in a spirit of mutual trust and support to promote the sustainable development of the logistics industry. The renewal of the MoU can further consolidate our cooperation foundation, as well as open up more cross-border collaboration opportunities for members in both regions," Lau said of the new agreement with CIFA.
He noted that in the future, in order to deepen exchanges with enterprises in mainland China, HAFFA aims to actively participate in a diverse range of industry activities such as conferences, forums, and seminars.
"Furthermore, while promoting deeper cooperation between the logistics sectors of Hong Kong and Mainland, we also strive to seize the new opportunities brought by China's economic growth, inject continuous impetus into the local logistics industry, and thereby driving the sector toward high-quality development," the HAFFA chairman added.
The international logistics alliance formed under the MoU, which contains an automatic renewal clause of its initial five-year validity, sees both associations agree to establish a cross-boundary communication platform.
The platform brings together shippers, carriers, airports, ports, and HAFFA members to enhance the international logistics business environment. It also seeks to drive development across key areas, including technology, regulations, service quality, information, capital, and talent.
HAFFA was established in 1966 and is responsible for setting industry standards as well as providing various educational courses regularly, which enhance the professional standards of the freight forwarders and logistics providers in the Hong Kong SAR.
Established in 2000 and headquartered in Beijing, CIFA has worked closely with HAFFA since its inception; the two organizations regularly exchange views and advise on a wide range of matters, including the implementation of VAT on the mainland in 2014.
