The Duty Free World Council has taken the bold step to commission the creation of a global DF&TR ‘Industry Database’  to develop an Industry Profile.

 

It has also appointed consultants Harry Bush and Daniel Storey to additionally develop and build the first of a series of Economic Impact Studies covering the economic and social contributions made by the global DF&TR industry to tourism, economic development, employment and to the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into international markets.

The value of such information – once gathered – to present as base ‘representative credentials’ to influential bodies and individuals in future is obviously self evident.

The DFWC says this work will be co-ordinated by Mr Kshitij (Kay) Goyal who has begun working in the DFWC office recently. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science) degree from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – Dubai, and has completed his coursework for a Masters in Management from ESCP Europe Business School, Paris.

 

 

RESOURCES WELCOMED

The industry’s world representative body says that Kay has already begun establishing an Industry Library and Resource Centre based in the DFWC office in Paris. In this regard, the Council says it would welcome donations of reports, papers, video materials and resources. Kay can be contacted on [email protected]

Other projects being actively progressed by the Duty Free World Council include the potential development of an industry education academy, with a view to establishing training and management development standards for the industry backed by a robust and academically sound accreditation process through university partnerships.

Exploratory talks are currently under way with a number of universities and a proposal will be discussed at the next meeting of the DFWC during TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.

Commenting on these developments, Frank O’Connell President of the Duty Free World Council (pictured here) said: “I would like to give a warm welcome to Kay, whose input will be especially important in the initial phases of this study. The work on which we are now embarking with Harry and Daniel is central to the core aims of the DFWC.”

BUILDING STRENGTH AND CREDIBILITY

He added (rightly) that the industry ‘sorely lacks a central database that draws on the many sources of information that exist’ and the idea is to collate the most relevant data to create a much clearer picture of the industry’s size, scope and economic and social impact.

“This, and the series of Economic Impact Studies also in preparation, will be invaluable in enabling the DFWC and its member associations to put our arguments to regulatory and legislative institutions from a position of strength,” said O’Connell.

“I am also excited about the potential to develop a new benchmark for training standards in the industry. Work is very much at the exploratory stage and there are many conversations still to be had, but I am very encouraged by the possibilities.”