Joining the club

zoom

Supported by a growing number of Middle East members, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) has ambitious plans to boost its presence in countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman, explains regional director Alex Borg.

What is the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT)?

We’re a global trade association that was established in 1919 for professionals in the supply chain and transport industry. There are currently 33,000 CILT members around the world, with our headquarters in the United Kingdom and branches in 30 different countries, including the likes of North America, Australia, Hong Kong, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

What are the core objectives of CILT?

The primary focus is providing our members with a range of relevant and valued services, which also lead to higher standards within the supply chain and transport industry.

It’s important for people to adopt leading-edge thinking and best practice to push the industry forward, especially in these times of global uncertainty.

When did you establish a presence in the United Arab Emirates?

We launched a branch in Dubai around seven years ago to support a growing number of members that were based in this part of the world. The response was very encouraging, with industry figureheads such as Maurice Flanagan from Emirates Group and Jitendra Misra from Emarat Maritime offering their support. Later, in 2007, Emirates Group agreed to sponsor our main activities and provide a central office at Emirates Aviation College.

How many members have you attracted?

Since our launch in 2002, we have welcomed around 150 members in the United Arab Emirates, although this number continues to increase on a monthly basis. We have attracted a diverse collection of people from the shipping, transport and logistics industry and CILT is especially proud to have His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, as our patron in this country.

What are the advantages of CILT membership?

Our members have a unique source of support, knowledge and networking to assist their personal and professional development. We have four categories of membership and encourage people to progress from student membership to chartered fellows, which requires at least seven years of management experience.

Are you working in competition with other trade associations?

On the contrary, we’re planning to align our activities with other trade associations, such as the Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG) and National Association of Freight Logistics (NAFL). A successful partnership has already been formed with Emirates Supply Chain Forum (ESCF) and we have entered discussions with the other groups too, so watch this space for updates.

Do you think the global recession will have an impact on your growth plans?

I am confident about developing our presence in this region, although it’s important to have realistic expectations for the future. The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) recently hosted a seminar, where delegates were informed that the logistics industry is contributing 9% of Dubai’s GDP at the moment. The government is pushing for this figure to reach 13%, which reinforces the opportunities ahead, both in the short-term and long-term. CILT wants to support this initiative and has embarked on a challenging programme to enhance its membership in Dubai and neighbouring emirates. We have also launched a practical training programme, with short courses being offered to logistics professionals who want to increase their skills base and gain a globally-recognised qualification.

Is that a primary goal in the development plan for CILT in the Middle East?

Yes, there are basically four stages in our development plan. At the first stage is a membership drive to attract more logistics professionals from the United Arab Emirates and make them a part of the CILT family. Second, we want to boost our range of professional courses, which is something this market really needs. Third, we will arrange a larger number of programmes and networking groups. And finally, we want to expand into other Middle Eastern countries. In addition to Dubai, we have accredited branches in Abu Dhabi and Oman which are both functional. Libya and Kuwait are next, followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM