CORK AUGUST 2012
BRENDAN KEATING PORT OF CORK ANNOUNCED AS CHAIRMAN OF IRISH CHAPTER OF GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF LOGISTICS
Pictured at the announcement from L-R: Yang Lei China Director GIL, Fran Dodd Irish Dairy Board,
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.
NOTES TO EDITORS
ABOUT GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF LOGISTICS
The Global Institute of Logistics (GIL) was established in 2003 under the Chairmanship of renowned US logistician and author Robert V. Delaney in response to the logistics industry’s call for “joined up thinking” amongst stakeholders in the global supply chain. GIL looks to resolve the challenges facing the global logistics chain of managing single transport modes, modal systems and targets which are set on stand-alone operations to create a seamless global logistics system.
A Think Tank, GIL brings together thought-leaders and thought-followers as part of a global knowledge network committed to building up the information base, best practices and standards. This, in turn, creates a platform through which knowledge is shared, best practice is adopted and trade developed. Today the Institute is a community of organizations and professionals from across the world that share a commitment to collaborating on global logistics solutions.
The Institute’s mission is to ‘Network the Global Logistics Community’
For further information, visit www.globeinst.org
