'Economic crisis in the West and it's implications' seminar in Sri
Lanka
CEO of The Global Institute of Logistics, USA Kieran Ring an
internationally renowned speaker will be in Sri Lanka for the first
time, to address the local audience on the captioned theme, at the
International Seminar organized by the Institute of Chartered
Shipbrokers - Sri Lanka Branch to coincide with their 25th Anniversary
celebrations.
The Global Institute of Logistics (GIL) is a not-for-profit
organization founded in 2003 by the members of the Global Logistics
Forum led by current CEO Kieran Ring, under the Chairmanship of the late
Robert V. Delaney (1936-2004) the renowned US logistics commentator and
author.
The Institute has been concerned with resolving the challenges that
have beset the global maritime logistics chain as a consequence of a
long tradition by the industry, domestically and internationally, of
managing single transport modes and modal systems and setting targets on
the efficiency of stand-alone logistics operations. This Modus Operandi
has set in place a culture that 'disintegrates' rather than integrates
our freight and supply chain systems. This culture has become all the
more destructive with the lengthening of the supply chain as a result of
global sourcing and selling.
Globalization is demanding new ways of thinking and new ways of
dealing with the challenges of fully integrating business processes
along extended and complex global maritime supply chain systems. The
Institute has tasked itself with meeting this challenge head-on and acts
as a Corporate University within the sector, bringing together thought
leaders and thought followers as part of a global knowledge network
committed to building up the information base, best practices and
standards needed to achieve the objective of creating a seamless global
maritime logistics system.
As a result of the Institute's research, it has become clear that the
Port Authority is best placed to act as champion and orchestrator within
the global supply chain system. A whole series of changes in the field
of world economics, such as the globalization of production and
consumption and the structural changes in inter-port relations,
port-hinterland relationships and logistics, have strengthened the role
of ports as nodes within the global transport system. In addition to
this, the Port Authority has a natural access to all stakeholders and
information necessary for the Port Authority to perform this role as
champion.
Historically ports were measured on their ability to accommodate
ships and other modes of transport effectively and efficiently.
Contemporary developments in transportation, however, dictate that
emphasis has shifted to the ability of ports to fulfill new roles in the
logistics era within the context of operating as part of an integrated
global supply chain system. The role of modern seaports involves
integration into the supply chain, and fulfilling this role means
greater ability of the port to satisfy customers and achieve its
objectives. In this role, the port is considered as part of a cluster of
organizations in which different logistics and transport operators are
involved in bringing value to the final consumers. In order to be
successful, such channels need to achieve a higher degree of
coordination and cooperation. The determination of the parameters that
encompass the extent of integration of ports/terminals in global supply
chains has, therefore, become of great importance for ports.
The half-day Seminar has been scheduled to be held on Thursday the
09th February, 2012 commencing from 9.00 a.m. at the Cinnamon Lakeside
Hotel. The theme of the Seminar, perhaps first of its kind and selected
after much deliberations is very much seen as of current interest and
expected to draw a cross section of the crowd from the middle-management
level upwards of the local shipping industry including the Ports
Authority, besides the foreign participants. |