SLFFA steps into capacity building

KNOWLEDGE: Identifying a critical need of the logistics and the trading community, the Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders Association (SLFFA) has come forward to set the first academy to build capacity in international trade and transportation in Sri Lanka, a press release states.

This is the first time a transport service sector association has stepped into a venture that would open up new opportunities to the school leavers and the industry employees to get practical experience and knowledge through working with the industry and at the same time achieve academic qualifications in the field.

If Sri Lanka is to advance in its competitive position in the field of shipping and logistics, it cannot be just done by building ports, airports, roads and railways. While infrastructure is a key need at this point of time, it would not be prudent to think that the physical structures can make us comparative in a rapidly changing and a highly competitive world. It is important to note that a well balanced, practical and a knowledgeable work force can deliver more effectively and efficiently to a dynamic industry, to be at the top in competition.

Sri Lankan exporters, importers, shipping agents, freight forwarders and all other players involved in international trade, transportation and logistics are having a serious problem today of recruiting skilled and knowledgeable cadre into the work force.

Today most companies do their own training through their own experiences and resources. As a result most company executives gain relatively low level of knowledge in the area of the vast activities in international trade.

Such knowledge gaps can lead to a negative contribution for businesses as they will not operate under optimum efficiency in servicing and competing with other countries, at the same time companies take a lot of time to train their employees at a high cost the release further states.

The Academy for International Trade and Transportation (AITT) will be launched in 2007 with the collaboration with UNESCAP and FIATA in building capacity in Sri Lanka.