Ottawa, May 30, 2014 — The International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations (IFCBA) held its bi-annual world conference “Celebrating 25 years of Trade Facilitation through Expertise and Innovation" in Seoul, Korea from May 13-17, 2014.
The conference sessions were well attended by 300 participants from all corners of the world, including Angola, Argentina, Canada, China, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Thailand, United States, Uruguay, and Vietnam.
In advance of the world conference, the IFCBA Board of Directors elected a new executive team, including Chairman Shantanu Bhadkamkar (India) and Managing Directors, Pedro Bequengue (Angola), Candace Sider (Canada), Vito Totorizzo (Italy), Han Hwi-Sun (Korea), Victor Gamas (Mexico) and Darrell Sekin (United States). George Zografos (Greece) is the Immediate Past Chairman, and Carol West (Canada) continues as IFCBA Secretary.
“Customs brokers have integrated into global supply chains as experts in logistics and border management, and have made unparalleled contributions towards making supply chains tax efficient, legally compliant, environmentally friendly, safe and secure” says Chairman Shantanu Bhadkamkar. “As the newly elected Chairman of the IFCBA, I am committed to work with our member associations to strengthen our professionalism, implement IFCBA best practices and continue to add value to the many small and medium sized businesses who rely on our expertise and experience.”
The IFCBA Board set the association’s direction for the coming year and will focus on themes of leadership through expertise and innovation; promotion of training and education; and strengthening global connections by networking and regional cooperation with members as well as other stakeholders on trade facilitation initiatives, including the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation.
The IFCBA (International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations) is entering its twenty-fifth anniversary year as the only global organization representing customs brokers. It continues to work to enhance the understanding of the customs broker’s role and value in facilitating trade and improving trade efficiency. The IFCBA Secretariat is located within the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers.
IFCBA Chairman and Managing Directors 2014-2016
IFCBA CHAIRMAN
SHANTANU BHADKAMKAR, INDIA
Mr. Shantanu Bhadkamkar is the Managing Director (Group CEO) of ATC Group, a leading Customs Broker & International Freight Forwarder in India. In addition to being the Chairman of IFCBA, he is also the Immediate Past Chairman of FFFAI & CSCMP RT Mumbai, Sr. VP of MACCIA - an Apex Chamber of State of Maharashtra, Vice President of AMTO. Mr. Bhadkamkar is also actively associated with other local, regional, national & international NGOs in active positions. He has been awarded with World Customs Organisation’s Certificate of Merit; and has also been a recipient of awards from many organisations for service to the industry.
IFCBA MANAGING DIRECTORS
PEDRO BEQUENGUE, ANGOLA
Mr. Pedro Bequengue was an employee in the International Trade Office of Angola from 1993 to 1999 and has worked over 20 years in the International Trade sector. He has been a Customs Broker since 1999. Mr. Bequengue was the Vice President of the Angola Customs Brokers Association from 2009 to 2013. He is the President of the Chamber of Customs Brokers of Angola for the biennium of 2014-2015 and has been a Managing Director of the International Federation of Customs Brokers Association (IFCBA) since 2012.
CANDACE SIDER, CANADA
Candace Sider is a senior customs and trade executive with over 35 years’ experience in the customs and trade industry with specific focus on compliance, corporate governance, risk management, crisis communication, advocacy and promotion of trade. In her current role leading Livingston International Inc.’s Canadian regulatory affairs group, Ms. Sider liaises with various Canadian government departments and agencies to help shape the policies and procedures governing trade in the context of a dynamic and evolving marketplace and to help Livingston develop business solutions that will meet the future needs of the international trade community.
She was chair of the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers from 2008 through 2011 and previously served on the IFCBA Board of Directors from 2008-2010. Ms. Sider was a CSCB Executive Board Member from 2012 to 2013, and the Immediate past Chair from 2012 to 2013. She has also been on the CSCB Board of Directors from 2004 to 2008, and on the Advisory Board of the Certified Trade Compliance Specialist Program. Ms. Sider has obtained her CSCB Certified Customs Specialist and Certified Trade Compliance Specialist designations and her Professional License from the Canada Border Services Agency.
VITO TOTORIZZO, ITALY
Vito Totorizzo works at BARI (Italy) SPAMAT SNC SHIPPING AND FORWARDING AGENCY. He has been a Seamaster since 1970, a Shipagent since 1980, and a Customs Broker since 1984. He was the President on the Board of ANASPED (Italian Association Customs Broker) from 2007 to 2010. Mr. Totorizzo has been a Board member of CONFIAD (European Association Customs Broker) since 2004 and is a Customs working group member of FEPORT(Association European Port Terminals). Mr. Totorizzo is a Board member of FEDERAGENTI (Italian Association of Shipagents). He has been an IFCBA Managing Director since 2012.
HAN HWI-SUN, KOREA
Han Hwi-Sun graduated from the College of Business Administration in Korea in 1997 as a Certified Customs Broker. He established HanJoo Customs Corporation in 2003 and has been a PR Committee member of KCBA (Korea Customs Brokers Association) since 2013. Mr. Hwi-Sun is a Taxation Value Evaluation Council member of the Seoul Customs House. He is an Audit Administration Development Committee member of the Korea Customs Service and an Advisory Customs Attorney of ENVICO (Korea Environment & Resources Corporation). Mr. Hwi-Sun was elected as the 22nd President of KCBA in March 2013.
VICTOR GAMAS, MEXICO
Víctor Gamas is currently Chairman of the Board of the National Confederation of Customs Brokers of Mexico (CAAAREM) and President and CEO for The Gamas Group. The Gamas Group is an International Logistics Provider, Freight Forwarder and Customs Brokers firm in Mexico and the USA headquarters are located Nogales, Mexico.
After graduating in 1991 from Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey, with a B.A. in Certificate Public Accountant, Mr. Gamas received his Customs Brokers license in 1994. Since then has developed from a family business of less than 25 employees to an international firm of more than 400 employees in 20 different locations through Mexico and the USA.
Mr. Gamas was elected President of the Mexican Confederation of Customs Brokers Associations in August 2013.Mr. Gamas is a past Chairman of the Nogales Customs Brokers Association.
DARRELL J. SEKIN JR., USA
Mr. Sekin is the current Chairman of the Board of The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc.(NCBFAA) after having served as the President of NCBFAA for two years. He has been an active member of NCBFAA since the late 1970’s and has served on and/or chaired numerous committees of NCBFAA as well as the North Texas Customs Brokers and Forwarders Associations and the Houston Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association throughout the years.
He received his Customs Broker License in 1975 and in 1995 he received a BS in Business Management from LeTourneau University.
In 1985 Mr. Sekin established what is now DJS International Services, Inc., an international freight forwarder, customs broker and NVOCC located at Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas that is owned and operated by he and his family.
IFCBA SECRETARY
CAROL WEST, CANADA
Carol West is the President of the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers as well as a founding director and the Secretary of the International Federation of Customs Brokers Associations.
Ms. West has participated for many years in Canadian and international discussions on harmonization of data requirements, Customs processes, border management, supply chain security and trade facilitation. She has served as an external advisor to the Office of the Auditor General of Canada on several audits relating to risk management and border processes. She has contributed to the World Customs Organization’s capacity building work on the SAFE Framework of Standards in El Salvador, Argentina and Guatemala in partnership with the Canada Border Services Agency. She has also been engaged by the World Bank and World Customs Organization as an expert on customs broker regulation for projects in Lao PDR and Vietnam. She was invited to join the World Customs Organization’s Private Sector Consultative Group when it was formed in 2006, was elected its Chair in June, 2008 and was re- elected for two additional terms.
Ms. West was awarded the inaugural CATIE award for Trade Leadership in Canada, and has also received a Certificate of Merit from the WCO for rendering exceptional service to the Canada Border Services Agency by strengthening partnerships between CBSA and the private sector.
For a copy of the media release and the new executive team, click here.
For more information please visit: www.ifcba.org.
Media contact:
Janice McBride
IFCBA Secretariat
c/o Canadian Society of Customs Brokers
(T) 613-562-3543
email: [email protected]; [email protected]