Asia Pacific Duty Free Association working party meets

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The group?s first meeting in Singapore addressed issues including membership, funding and where the new association will be based

The working party charged with developing the Asia Pacific Duty Free Association has met for the first time in Singapore to discuss the issues involved. The group, comprising key representatives from the regional trade, proposed that the association would be based in Singapore and that membership should be open to all duty-free operators (including airlines, airports and cruise ships), brands, national duty-free associations, and related industry associations. Tax Free World Association has agreed to provide initial administrative resources.

The group is drafting a proposed set of statutes to be put before the first formal meeting of the Asia Pacific Duty Free Association during the TFWA World Exhibition in October. The formation of the association was first proposed at a meeting at TFWA Asia Pacific last month, after TFWA was approached by members of the Asia/Pacific industry who were concerned about the lack of regional representation.

The Nuance Group director business development and corporate relations Asia Pacific and working group member Christian Strang said: ?The intention is to make the new Asia Pacific Duty Free Association as representative as possible of the whole duty-free and travel-retail industry in the Asia and Pacific regions. The working party aims to create a lightweight administrative structure which will adequately represent the needs and wishes of its member companies as the industry develops in this region. Through the umbrella Duty Free World Council it will also have heavyweight influence on global trade issues.?