ACU Dec-18 Final LR

The
L
UNGE
Mentoring the young
through teaching
Stanley Lim holds the record as the longest serving
council member of the Singapore Logistics Association
having been with the group since 1992. He served as
SLA chairman for several terms, including this year,
with focus on globalizing the organization founded in
1973 that represents nearly 600 companies.
Lim, 71, is a well respected figure in Singapore's
freight forwarding industry with an illustrious 50-year
career in the business. Apart from SLA, he also serves in
the International Federation of Freight Forwarders
Association (FIATA) Extended Board where he chairs
the Congress Committee.
After completing his Cambridge education in
teaching, Lim opted to work for the Government of
Singapore as customs officer instead of teaching. Two
years later, he moved to the logistics industry.
“I am already 50 years in this industry. I'm already 71,”
Lim proudly shared with Air Cargo Update on the
sidelines of the first FIATA Congress ever held in New
Delhi, India. “I have been doing logistics all these years.
Logistics is in my blood and I'm very passionate about it.”
Lim, the Group Chief Operating Officer of Addicon
Logistics Management (S) Pte Ltd. which has 10 offices
across Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Thailand
and Bangladesh, says although he didn't teach in his
younger years, the time calls for him to pass on his
knowledge to the younger generation.
“We need to nurture the young,” says Stanley who
now teaches diploma courses at SLA's Logistics
Academy apart from running his business and actively
serving various trade organizations.
“After I left school in my senior Cambridge level, I was
offered to become a school teacher. But I became a
customs officer and after two years, I said, ‘I must go
Stanley Lim
Group Chief Operating Officer, Addicon Logistics Management Pte Ltd.
Chairman, Singapore Logistics Association
Chairperson Congress Committee, FIATA Extended Board
into logistics.’ I did not accept the teaching job but I'm
now teaching the young in diploma courses in the
academy.”
In recognition of his invaluable contributions to
Singapore and the global freight forwarding industry,
Lim was bestowed the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (PBM)
Public Service Award by the President of the Republic of
Singapore in 2001. In 2006, he won the Golden Chariot
Award – Achievement for Strengthening International
Relationships in the Transport Sector, in Shenzhen,
China.
Lim says the freight forwarding industry is moving to
the digital world but at a slow pace for various reasons.
“Technology is imposed unto us. It's disruptive to the
industry and we have to adapt to cater to this
innovation so that we can be up to date and serve our
customers in the right way. The freight forwarding
industry is not so receptive yet but we have no choice
but to adapt,” the businessman said.
Singapore is one of the leading nations in technology.
It's pushing to become a smart-nation where
everything is interconnected digitally.
“In Singapore, the government is pushing for
digitalization. We're aiming to become a “smart-nation”
where everything is interconnected. We have to use
technology not to replace humans but to get humans to
make use of technology for their business,” said Lim.
With so many things to learn and pass on, Lim says he
unwinds by meeting people through networking,
having a couple of drinks and trading jokes with friends.
“I love humor and humorous moments,” he says.