Message of the President                    

Dear Members

2012 has been a challenging year for our industry and this will continue in 2013.

We have seen numerous changes in our industry in the last years and the Council of ICF has agreed that it is timely to review some of the set-up and output of our Federation. I would like to take this opportunity to briefly inform you about the plans which have been developed.

•    The ICF offices will be relocated in Vienna to reduce cost. We will of course maintain a very professional working environment for our Secretariat.
•    Work is ongoing to upgrade and update our website, which will go online in Spring. It is evident that we need to better use this communication tool to draw attention to the fact that modern life does not function without our products.
•    It has also been decided to gradually raise the visibility of ICF and - by that - of our industry in international fora. With our limited resources in Vienna and
relying on the voluntary support and input of the members of the ICF Standing Commission, this is a very ambitious program for 2013 and onwards.
•    The Council of ICF has also come to the conclusion, that the “heart and soul” of our Federation, our annual congress, needs to be modernized to better meet our needs. The timing for Singapore (16 to 19 October 2013) has been slightly streamlined to allow a more efficient use of valuable management & travel time.

I would like to close this brief information by asking for your support in broadening the membership base of ICF. As said on many occasions: you are the best ambassadors for ICF so please encourage colleagues in your region of the world to join this unique platform of our industry.

Sincerely yours
J. Antonio Funetevilla
President