Christopher Kennedy, newly elected president of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica.

The Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica (CBFFAJ) will target the development of opportunities in the shipping and logistics business for its members as a major focus of the leadership of newly-elected president, Christopher Kennedy.

According to Kennedy, in the next two years, the majority of containers moved by shipping lines will be business from non-vessel operating common carriers and freight forwarders.

"While some members have taken advantage of the opportunities that exist ... many of us may need training, exposure and help in the forging of strategic partnerships and alliances," Kennedy said. Kennedy, who is the managing director of Eagle and Whale Limited, was elected president of the CBFFAJ during the association's annual general meeting at the Hilton Kingston hotel on April 13.

The new president said his administration will focus on building institutional capacity through training and education, giving vice-presidents a greater level of responsibility, establishing a viable succession plan, and increasing the public profile of the association by weighing in more consistently on important economic and social issues.

Welcomed credit

Commenting on the recent budget speech made by Finance Minister Audley Shaw, Kennedy said the association welcomes the two per cent credit to manufacturers, noting that such initiatives will result in savings for customers who are involved in that business.

Another important area of focus for brokers, he stressed, was the operations of the Custom Brokers Licensing Advisory Board and the non-enforcement of the regulations in a number of instances.