Support for the Duty Free World Council and Tax Free World Association anti-illicit trade declaration grows in Asia Pacific as Delhi Duty Free, King Power Thailand and King Power Group(Hong Kong) join as signatories

26 September 2023

The Duty Free World Council (DFWC) and Tax Free World Association (TFWA) are pleased to announce that Delhi Duty Free, India’s leading travel retailer, King Power Thailand, and King Power Group (Hong Kong), leading Asia Pacific retailers have signed the anti-illicit trade declaration. First launched in July 2023 with six signatory retailers, the declaration now boasts 13 retailer signatures, with more expected in the coming weeks.

With operations throughout India and the wider Asia Pacific region, the addition of Delhi Duty Free, King Power Thailand, and King Power Group (Hong Kong) to the declaration marks a major extension of the duty- and tax-free industry’s public commitment to combat illicit trade, counterfeiting and intellectual property theft.

By signing the declaration, signatories commit to a zero-tolerance approach to illicit trade within their own organisations.  

The DFWC and TFWA expect to make announcements regarding further retailer and supplier signatories at the upcoming TFWA World Exhibition and Conference to be held in Cannes in October 2023.
 
Welcoming the new signatories DFWC President Sarah Branquinho said: 
 
“The DFWC and TFWA are pleased to gain the support of Delhi Duty Free, King Power Thailand and King Power Group (Hong Kong) adding to that of other retailers in demonstration of our shared stand against all forms of illicit trade, counterfeiting and intellectual property theft, and to hold their commercial partners to that same standard. 

We welcome the support of other travel retail operators and suppliers who share this commitment and wish to be a part of the campaign which is increasingly gaining momentum.” 
 
Speaking on behalf of Delhi Duty Free, Chief Executive Ashish Chopra said: 
 
“We are proud to join our industry colleagues in taking this clear and strong stance against illicit trade, counterfeiting, intellectual property theft, and any form of criminal activity that threatens the reputation of the travel retail sector. 
 
“This is an important issue for our industry, and we encourage other retailers and suppliers who have not already signed the declaration to join us in doing so.” 

King Power Thailand Chief Commercial Officer Antares Cheng said:

“We will commit to fight against all forms of illicit trade. There is no place in our industry for companies to engage in illicit trade and we are proud of the hard work our industry does to ensure there is a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of fraudulent behaviour. We want to encourage all our partners to join us to protect our industry.”

Speaking on behalf of King Power Group (Hong Kong), Group Chief Executive Sunil Tuli
said:

"We are proud to stand with other leading travel retailers in the fight against all forms
of illegal and illicit trade that cause irreputable harm to our industry.

Our industry's supply chain is robust and transparent, and we have a rich history of close collaboration with customs and enforcement authorities around the world. It is our collective responsibility to work with industry partners, enforcement agencies and governments to bring illicit trade to the end.

We look forward to partnering other retailers and suppliers in this ongoing fight to
prevent illicit trade in our supply chains.”