24 May 2012
As part of its capacity building programme on international trade, UNCTAD's TrainForTrade Port Training Programme focussing on modern port management, hosted by the Port of Cork in the Republic of Ireland, was inaugurated on 22 May and will run in the city for two weeks.
The training of trainers workshop is being attended by 28 delegates, including from Ghana, Indonesia, Maldives, Namibia, Pakistan, South Africa and Tanzania, and has been organised by UNCTAD in cooperation with the Port of Cork, Dublin Port Company, and Belfast Harbour Commissioners, with the support of Irish Aid.
This year's workshop will focus on module 5 to 8: Methods and Tools of Modern Port Management, Commercial and Economic Management, Administrative and Legal Management, and finally, Technical Management and Human Resources Development.
The TrainForTrade programme was set-up to facilitate sustainable economic development in developing and transition countries through training and capacity development.
In Cork, delegates will participate in workshops and will learn best practice examples from a wide selection of Port of Cork's operational areas including strategic planning. Workshops will also be given by representatives from Dublin Port Company, Irish Aid, University College Cork and Dublin City University throughout the two week programme.
Speaking about the event, Port of Cork Harbour Master, Captain Pat Farnan commented: "We are delighted to be hosting this exceptional conference with UNCTAD both to showcase our world class port facilities here in Cork and also to extend our knowledge of port operations to these delegates. ... (W)e recognise the importance of helping these countries to develop sustainable commercial port operations for themselves and I am certain this training programme will play a substantial part in achieving that goal."
"All of the delegates attending this conference are involved in port management in their respective countries and it is our goal that they will take their learning back to their colleagues at home to train others to ensure that this valuable knowledge is passed on," he concluded.
UNCTAD staff member from the Division of Technology and Logistics (DTL) Mark Assaf, and consultants Janjarang Kijtikhun and Timothy Sullivan are facilitating the workshop and training programme at the Port of Cork.
