CORK AUGUST 2012
BRENDAN KEATING PORT OF CORK ANNOUNCED AS CHAIRMAN OF IRISH CHAPTER OF GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF LOGISTICS
Brendan Keating Port of Cork, Ray Grafton GIL
The chief executive of Port of Cork, Brendan Keating, has said that Ireland “must be prepared” to make significant improvements to its supply chain infrastructure, or the opportunities presented by increased domestic production “will be lost”.His comments follow the announcement by the Irish Maritime Development Office last week (Aug 23) that containerised Irish exports fell 5% in the second quarter of the year.
Keating was speaking following his appointment as the chairman of the Irish Chapter of the Global Institute of Logistics. Through discussion with industry stakeholders, trade development organisations and government agencies, the Chapter will seek to establish guidelines on the role of logistics and maritime transport in economic development, the expansion of international trade opportunities and current infrastructure challenges.
“I am convinced that by encouraging debate, a healthy exchange of views and ideas between all stakeholders, the Irish Chapter can take on the challenges presented by the rapidly changing global logistics industry,” said Keating.
Following its formation, the Irish Chapter is scheduled to commence discussions with GIL’s China Chapter on the founding elements of a China-Ireland supply chain platform and liaise with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) on increasing awareness of Ireland as an international trading partner. It is also in the process of developing a white paper on the logistics challenges arising from the reforming of the EU Common Agricultural Policy in 2014, and the subsequent trade opportunities that will arise. Keating continued: “Remember, increased trade leads to increased levels of economic activity, which in turn leads to higher levels of employment and consequently more trade and freight volumes for Irish ports.”
The Irish Chapter will be formally launched at an event taking place on November 7th, at UCD Michael Smurfit Business School. The formation of the Irish Chapter coincides with the inauguration of Port of Cork as a member of the Global Institute of Logistics.
