How Sri Lanka can be a logistics/transport hub

Thursday, 6 June 2013 01:33 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

“We have an efficient port – it can be more efficient but on a global scale, we are up there among the better ports in the world but having a port alone does not make us a logistics and transport hub,” Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Sri Lanka Chairman Romesh David said yesterday.

Addressing a large gathering at the inauguration of the CILT International Conference 2013, David stressed that even though the country has a ‘great’ port and the shipping business is doing well, that alone does not make it a logistics hub or a transport hub.

“We need to bring it together with an enabling environment with other facilities that are world class,” he stated. David noted that these facilities do not need to be developed within the country itself but can be easily brought to Sri Lanka. The country would also do well in gathering examples from giants that are on the either side of the island nation – Singapore and Dubai which are outstanding global hubs.

Position alone isn’t enough, he emphasised. “We need a host of other things to get the hub status and a whole lot of investment to go with that.”

He reminded that cargo is like water, always taking the path with least resistance. “The more barriers, roadblocks and checks and balances we put in the way of the smooth flow of cargo means that cargo will seek an alternative route. That must be realised by stakeholders of Sri Lanka today.”

David continued: “We may have the greatest location or port but it doesn’t mean that it will become a great hub. There is still a whole load of stuff that needs to be done in order to achieve the seamless flow of cargo as in Dubai and Singapore.”

The KPIs that the said hubs aspire to are beyond world class. Plans must be made to attain the level of efficiency reached by the two hubs.

“As an institute, we believe that in order to achieve this, we need to raise the bar in terms of the capability of our people and spend more of our time and energy in the coming years to create the environment and more opportunities for students and practitioners to advance their professional education in these fields.”