EuroBridge Managing Director David Abela named President of Association of Groupage Operators

EuroBridge Shipping Services Ltd Managing Director David Abela has been appointed President of the Association of Groupage Operators (AGO), the freight forwarding company announced on Wednesday.

While he has served as Acting President of the organisation since 4th January 2023, his appointment was confirmed on 7th February 2023.

The AGO was formed in the 1990s with the aim to represent all licensed groupage operators who were allowed to release cargo from within the Ħal Far Groupage Complex. It is primarily responsible for the cleaning and maintaining of the complex’s common areas, and also works closely with Malta’s Department of Customs and other entities to “support positive changes in the industry”.

As President, Mr Abela aims to “improve the overall efficiencies and cleanliness” of the complex so that imported freight would undergo a “smoother, quicker clearing process, including customs clearance”. This should enable operators to deliver a better service to their customers and “avoid costly and lengthy delays”.

He is tasked with leading the AGO committee and ensuring that the decisions taken are implemented. Through the help of the committee, the President must also “ensure that Members adhere to the association’s decisions”.

Mr Abela was immediately “determined to create a positive” impact in the association, and together with the other committee Members, he had a meeting with the Director General of Malta Customs. This was followed by the registration of the association, which until a few months ago, was still an unofficial group.

Over the coming weeks, the AGO will be tackling the challenge brought about by the complex’s “limited space”, a deficiency that has “long been a cause for concern for operators and has often led to delays in groupage processing”.

Mr Abela is also “eager” to see that the association becomes the “first point of contact” for its Members to discuss challenges, seek assistance, and resolve difficulties.

Commenting on the appointment, EuroBridge CEO Robert Cassar said that Mr Abela will be a “great asset” in assisting groupage operators to “continue maximising the use” of the complex as well as continuing the dialogue with Malta Customs for operators to “meet their obligations in order to give the best service to Maltese businesses”.

Mr Abela has worked at EuroBridge since 1998, when he initially joined as Customs Clearance Executive. Over the following two years, he enjoyed a series of promotions, and in 2000 at the age of just 22, he acquired a major part of the shareholding of the company and became one of Malta’s youngest Managing Directors. He is primarily focused on working on the company’s development and introduction of new local services, as well as “leading the way with global expansion”.