Mekong Institute (MI), with support from the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), has launched a two–week international training program on Green Freight & Logistics Development on August 21, at the MI Residential Training Center, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
The training aims to address the importance of ‘Green’, in the freight and logistics by enhancing the knowledge and skills on logistics operations and services of the agencies involved in transport and logistics sector.
A total of 20 participants are attending the training. They are senior and mid-level government officials from South Asia, Southeast Asia, African States, and countries of the Pacific Islands including Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Fiji, Guinea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Myanmar, Nepal, Palestine, Panama, Philippines, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan who are involved in transport and logistics sectors.
Delivering the welcoming and opening remarks, Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of MI Trade and Investment and Facilitation Department, expressed that in the context of increasing regionalization and globalization in recent decades, freight and logistics have been growing in a number of areas. At the same time, the sectors have encountered a number of issues related to adverse environmental impacts, such as Green House Gas (GHG), toxicity and global warming, which have been caused by freight and logistics operations. Therefore, the program is directed at (i) enhancing awareness and knowledge of the potential and benefits of green freight policies in the region; (ii) identifying opportunities that can be developed into actions in practice; and (iii) shaping strategies for development of green freight and logistics for policy makers and businesses in the private sector are urgent needs.
Implemented by the Trade & Investment Facilitation (TIF) Department of MI, a team of international, national and in-house experts with a significant experience in logistics management at international level will provide participants with significant opportunities for being exposed to international best practices and expertise. The training program will also discuss the potentials and benefits of green freight policies; identify opportunities that can be developed into actions and projects; form a knowledge base to complement efficient logistics and green freight programs in the countries; and share best practices in Thailand to promote learning and exchange among various stakeholders in green freight and logistics. As part of the training, study visits to a Customs Office in Nong Khai Province and the Professional ID Driver Centre in Khon Kaen have also been arranged.
In addition, the participants have a chance to present their country situation report on “Country’s Green Freight and Logistics Situation”.
At the end of the training, the participants are required to prepare their feasible action plans on logistics sector management and operations in line with their national development context so as to disseminate the knowledge and skills they have gained during the training to respective in-country stakeholders.
