Southeast Europe is no longer just a transit region, but is becoming a strategic logistics gateway, given its enormous potential in shaping the future of European and Eurasian trade, declared FIATA President Thomas Sim on Monday, at the opening of the Southeast Europe Freight Forwarders Congress (SEEFF x FIATA REU Field Meeting 2026).
„This event is much more than a regional congress. It represents an important strategic event for our industry. It reflects the recognition that, in today's interconnected and uncertain world, regional logistics challenges can no longer be solved in isolation. Supply chains are now deeply interdependent. What affects one corridor affects another. What disrupts one border, port, or transport route, ultimately reverberates globally. (...) We are at a defining moment for international shipping and global logistics. Around the world, our industry continues to navigate a period of unprecedented complexity and transformation. Geopolitical tensions continue to reshape trade corridors and supply strategies. Conflicts and instability in certain regions have disrupted shipping routes, increased insurance costs, extended transit times, and introduced new operational uncertainties. We have seen protectionism and global nationalism re-emerge in many parts of the world. Cyber threats are on the rise. Climate-related disruptions are becoming more frequent and severe. Meanwhile, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, automation, data visibility, and sustainability requirements are rapidly changing the very fabric of global trade.”, said Sim, quoted by Agerpres.
The President of FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) emphasized that today's freight forwarding industry is no longer just about moving goods, but has become a „strategic architect of supply chain stability.”.
„We manage risks, orchestrate resilience, ensure business continuity, and increasingly, are becoming strategic architects of supply chain stability. In this context, Southeastern Europe holds a position of growing strategic importance. Historically, this region has served as a bridge between East and West, North and South, connecting Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Black Sea region. Today, this role becomes even more critical. Southeastern Europe is no longer just a transit region. It is becoming a strategic logistics gateway. From the development of multimodal transport corridors, internal connectivity and rail integration, to the expansion of port infrastructure, cross-border logistics cooperation, and nearshoring opportunities, this region holds enormous potential in shaping the future of European and Eurasian trade.” transmitted Thomas Sim.
Nevertheless, freight forwarding companies in this region face all sorts of challenges such as lack of infrastructure, border procedures, and fragmented regulations.
„At the same time, we must also acknowledge the realities and challenges faced by freight forwarders in this region. Issues such as a lack of infrastructure still exist, with border procedures and fragmented regulations continuing to create inefficiencies. The labor shortage is worsening. The lack of drivers is a major issue, even in this region. Small and medium-sized enterprises are facing increasing pressures generated by the costs of digitalization, sustainability compliance requirements, and market consolidation. Many independent freight forwarders continue to compete in an environment increasingly dominated by technological investments and global network integration. This is precisely why organizations like FIATA and SEEFF are important. Because our role is not just ceremonial. Our role is to ensure that freight forwarders, especially SMEs and independent operators, continue to have a strong voice, a competitive future, and significant representation in shaping international transport policies and logistics development.” he stated.
According to him, as a global organization representing freight forwarders and logistics service providers from over 150 countries, FIATA continues to actively work on several key priorities, primarily representation of interests.
„We collaborate with international institutions, governments, regulatory authorities, and industry players to ensure that policies affecting freight forwarders are practical, balanced, and commercially realistic. Secondly, digitalization. The future of logistics will undoubtedly be digital. However, digital transformation must be inclusive, accessible, and practical, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. Technology must support freight forwarders, not marginalize them. (…) Thirdly, sustainability. Sustainability is no longer optional. Today, customers, governments, investors, and society increasingly expect greener, more transparent, and more resilient supply chains. However, sustainability must also be economically feasible. The logistics transition must not create a divide where only the largest corporations can meet the requirements, while SMEs struggle to survive. FIATA promotes pragmatic, collaborative, and industry-supported pathways for the sustainable transformation of logistics. Fourthly, education and human capital development. Technology alone cannot solve supply chain challenges without competent people. The future of logistics depends on attracting and developing the next generation of freight forwarders, logistics professionals, digital specialists, and supply chain leaders.”Sim showed.
The FIATA CEO stated that logistics remains a people-based business and the value of human relationships based on trust becomes even more important.
„In an era increasingly driven by algorithms, automation, and artificial intelligence, the value of human relationships built on trust becomes even more important, not less. Technology can optimize costs, AI can analyze data, and automation can improve efficiency, but trust, cooperation, partnership, and problem-solving across borders and cultures still depend on us, humans. Events like this congress remind us that significant logistical cooperation is built not just through systems and platforms, but through relationships, dialogue, credibility, and mutual understanding. This is why gatherings like this remain so valuable: because when regions connect, solutions emerge. When industry leaders collaborate, resilience is strengthened, and when shippers unite across borders, the entire global trade system becomes more robust.”, he also said.
Thomas Sim expressed optimism about the future of the logistics and freight forwarding industry.
„The logistics industry in which we operate has always thrived during times of change. Our industry has repeatedly demonstrated its resilience in the face of crises, disruptions, pandemics, geopolitical uncertainties, and economic transformations, and I remain optimistic about the future, not because the challenges are small, but because the logistics industry has consistently shown an extraordinary ability to adapt, innovate, collaborate, and move forward. Southeast Europe has an important role to play in a future where connectivity becomes smarter, a future where supply chains become more resilient, a future where regional cooperation contributes to global stability, and a future where cargo shippers continue to be indispensable facilitators of international trade and economic development.” added the FIATA president.
The capital city is hosting, for three days (May 18-20), the European Freight Forwarders Congress (SEEFF x FIATA REU Field Meeting 2026), one of the most important events of the year for the transport, freight forwarding, and logistics sector.
The event brings together the FIATA REU Field Meeting Conference and the Congress of Freight Forwarders and Logistics Companies from South-Eastern Europe (SEEFF). The congress is organized by the Union of Freight Forwarders' Associations of Romania (USER), for the first time in Romania.