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MSTI receives prestigious Seatrade Education, Training Award

The Mercantile Seamen Training Institute (MSTI) was honoured with the prestigious Seatrade Education and Training Award at the Seatrade Awards' ceremony held in parallel to the Sri Lanka Ports, Trade and Logistics Conference and Exhibition 2013.

"We are privileged to receive the Seatrade " Education and Training Award" in recognition of our excellence in Maritime Training.

This is yet another milestone in our pioneering journey stretching back more than 26 years when the Mercantile Seamen Training Institute was set up on the seafront within the picturesque port city of Galle to train young Sri Lankan youth to become professional Seafarers sailing the seven seas" said Capt. Rohan Codipilly, Chief Operating Officer of MERCMARINE Group of companies MSTI operates two specialized training centres one for Nautical Officers and the other for Ratings, and the training programmes conducted are of the highest standard and MSTI has been spearheading a journey of continuously redefining the standards of maritime training to keep up with the ever changing operating environment in a global context.

Keeping to this MSTI has been accredited by the Directorate of Merchant Shipping (DGMS), The Tertiary Vocational Education Committee (TVEC), See Berufs Genossenshaft (SBG) and been honoured with the Lloyd's List Salute to Maritime Excellence Awards - Award for "Excellence in Commitment to Training" and is a IOS 9001 accredited company.

The Training facility accommodates over 250 resident students both Sri Lankan and foreign along with the best training facilities and faculty that any youth can access locally, to further his sea going career.

The awards ceremony was part of the Sri Lanka Ports Trade and Logistics Gala Dinner held on May.

The conference is earmarked to be an important fixture in the global maritime conference circuit further strengthening the importance of Colombo as a maritime hub.

China South Asia Friendship Organizations Forum concludes in China

Harsha Udayakantha Peiris

The 3rd China South Asia Friendship Organizations Forum, jointly organized by Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CCPAFF) and the people's Government of Yunnan province, and sponsored by Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries was successfully held in Kunming in China from June 5th- 8th 2013.

The Forum with the theme "Together for a better future, Promote friendship, Cooperation and exchange, Seek common development" was especially designed to boost greater diplomatic ties through enhanced bilateral relations and friendship among countries.

With around 60 delegates representing 27 friendship organizations from 6 South Asian countries that included Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and China, 30 delegates from Chinese provincial municipal friendship associations, nearly 150 delegates attended the forum. China-South Asia EXPO and Kunming Import and Export Commodities Fair was also held parallel to the event.

The CPAFFC initiated and organized the China South Asia Friendship Organizations Forum in 2009,in order to discuss about organizing China-South Asia regional cooperative programs, on the basis of promoting bilateral cooperation, explore new channels of multi-lateral cooperation, expand the scope of exchange between the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and other South Asian friendship organizations.

Sri Lanka was also privileged at this international event with the appointment of a delegate as the Foreign Chairman of the third day session of the forum. Accordingly, the President of Sri Lanka, China Journalists' forum, Nalin Aponso was selected the Foreign Chairman of the third day session that implemented discussions on the themes of Cultural & Tourism Exchanges from the Viewpoint of Regional Cooperation and Cooperation on Investment and Trade on the South Silk Road. Secretary General of India, China Friendship association, Mohan Reddy Madira delivered the introductory denotation on Cultural & Tourism Exchanges from the Viewpoint of Regional Cooperation.

In his initial introductory denotation as the Foreign Chairman of the third day session on Cooperation on Investment and Trade on the South Silk Road, the President of Sri Lanka, China Journalists' forum (SLCJF), Nalin Aponso stated that the economic and trade cooperation between China and the neighboring states have maintained good momentums in recent years, and the proportion of the bilateral trade volumes were increasing in the total trade volume between China and other South Asian countries. According to China's statistics, the trade volume reached US $ 8.45 billion in 2012, which was 7 times more than that of 2002.

"Having over one third as of the world's population, we would see the world's trading centre of gravity is fast shifting towards the Asian region. World's biggest exporter being China and out of the world's top 10 container ports 6 being in China, several lines have embarked the building mega ships to cater to the transportation need.

The first Triple E 18,000 TEU vessel out of 20 from Maersk Line will be put on the Far East Europe Service in July this year. China shipping has ordered 5 x 18 k TEU vessels. Mega ports are developing along the South Silk Road. Sri Lanka has invested over US $ 5 billion on port development projects and during the coming years you would see Sri Lanka emerging as the 'Maritime Hub' in South Asia," he said.

The Silk Road being a historical network of interlinking trade routes that connected Eastern, Southern and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world as well as the North and East Africa has given passage to raw materials, finished goods and also to ideas, inventions and religions.

The route received its name from the 'Chinese Silk Trade' carried out along this route community from the Han dynasty in 206 BC. Today. the South Silk Road is the main East-West shipping route connecting East and the West.

Chairing the session theme on Investment and Trade on the South Silk Road President of SLCJF -Nalin Aponso also stated that there was a great potential for the regional countries to deepen economic and trade cooperation in closer collaboration with the People's Republic of China. "China is the largest neighboring country of South Asia and has become the second largest economy in the world.

At present, China is making every effort to adjust its economic structure, change the modality of development and implement the strategy of developing the western regions and expand its opening up. Keeping such context as an initiative, cooperation on investment and trade on the South Silk Road has become imperative in the course of socio-economic development not only in the region but also the whole world," he added.

Nalin Aponso also stressed the importance of appointing a working committee to rightly implement the recommendations met at the forum especially, in connection with the opening of Kunming, the South Asian Gateway for a greater regional economic development.

Following careful consideration into the proposals forwarded by Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to suggest venues for the international forum's next session, and in recognition of the immense services rendered by Chinese friendship associations, organizations and forums in Sri Lanka towards greater diplomacy through enhanced bilateral activities and friendship with China, it was decided to hold the 4th China South Asia Friendship Organizations Forum in 2015 in Sri Lanka jointly organized by the Sri Lanka, China Friendship Association, Association for Sri Lanka, China Social and Cultural Cooperation, Sri Lanka, China Society and the Sri Lanka - China Journalists' Forum(SLCJF) and in collaboration with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Sri Lanka. Discussions are also in progress to hold a Sri Lanka, China trade Exhibition parallel to the oncoming event.

The Sri Lankan delegation to Kunming in China at the3rd China South Asia Friendship Organizations Forum comprised of the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and the President of Organization for South Asian Regional Friendship and Cooperation with China - Dr.Rajitha Senarathne, Secretary, D.S.N.Rajapaksha, Dr. Sujatha Senarathne, Additional Secretary (Ports) and President (Economic and Ethical Affairs) of the Association for Sri Lanka, China Social and Cultural Cooperation, Anuradha Wijekoon, Standing President, Indrananda Abesekara, Secretary of Sri Lanka, China Society, De Silva R. Jinith, Vice President, Liyanage Sumanasena, Secretary General of Sri Lanka, China Friendship Association, Sumathi Dharmawardena, Vice President, Dinesh Kirthinanda, President of Sri Lanka, China Journalists' Forum (SLCJF), Nalin Aponso and Secretary Saranga Wijeyarathne.

Marks & Spencer announces plans for major distribution centre

Marks & Spencer (M&S) and DP World London Gateway yesterday jointly announce that M&S would build a major new distribution centre at the new deep-sea container port and logistics park, which opens later this year on the Thames in South Essex, just 25 miles from central London.

Locating M&S' new distribution centre at Britain's new global shipping gateway means the company will move millions of products directly from ships to the company's hi-tech warehousing facility at the adjacent London Gateway Logistics Park.

London Gateway's south east location gives M&S closer access to key UK cities which means goods will not travel as far to reach consumers. This model will be both cost effective for M&S and remove millions of lorry miles from UK roads along with thousands of tonnes of CO2.

As part of its £200 million investment at DP World's London Gateway, M&S will create approximately 700 jobs; there will also be hundreds of additional workers employed in the construction phase.

Source: DP World