Working as the chairperson and secretariat of the FRETA Logistic Masters Project, the Mekong Institute (MI) hosted the first Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting at the Sukosol Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand on August 27, 2014. This two-year FRETA Logistics Master Project, funded by the Republic of Korea, has been officially launched since August 2014. 

The objective of the project is to improve cross-border and trans-shipment logistics services through capacity development and accreditation of local logistics providers in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand (CLMVT). The Project is divided into two phases with three modular training programs and one Training of Trainers (ToT) program, targeting at training 90 local logistics service operators. 

A total of 10 people attended the meeting representing the MI, GMS Freight Transport Association (GMS FRETA), Greater GMS Business Forum (GMS BF), Thai Chamber of Commerce and logistics companies involved in the foreign trade. 

During the meeting, core members of the TWG and their roles and responsibilities were defined. Besides getting across the project pipeline, members also shared their experience in the GMS logistics and transport industries. Moreover, members jointly agreed that the three modular training programs will focus on the introductory-level of knowledge and skills and 20 finalists selected from these trainings will be offered the advanced ToT program and join the test for certificatory as logistics masters. Members also contributed their ideas to the modules and content development for the training programs. 

As such, members have started to identify two experts (one from Korea and the other from Thailand) for the curriculum design. These two experts will provide a draft of curriculum outline and define the relevant Resource Persons for the training programs at the second TWG meeting on October 3, 2014.