The training has been developed in partnership with Terra Vertis, an Amman-based consulting firm specialising in corporate sustainability and responsibility solutions and strategies. Aramex has developed a special module for the program, with on-ground support from Terra Vertis.

The first group of employees, including 22 members of staff from the Global Support Office and Amman station, has already been trained in the module. These employees will, in turn, provide training to other Aramex staff based on their learning from this unique program.

“As the name of this programme suggests, our aim is to create Green Champions across our global workforce,” says Raji Hattar, Aramex Chief Sustainability Officer. “These Green Champions will themselves become ambassadors for Aramex’s diverse sustainability initiatives, training other employees in environmentally friendly practices and contributing to greener and more sustainable communities in all the markets we serve.

“At Aramex, we have long demonstrated our commitment to best practice environmentally friendly business practices,” he says. “Through the Green Champions program, we are taking a further step in this regard by developing brand ambassadors who will demonstrate our values across their day-to-day activities.

“We are delighted to support Aramex in this unique initiative to sensitize individuals towards the environment,” adds Salah Tayeh, CEO, Terra Vertis. “As a company, we are constantly looking for partners who can join us in creating greener and more sustainable communities. I am glad to note here that Aramex has always stood out for its accomplishment in this regard. Through the Green Champions initiative, we hope to create a movement that eventually touches the community at large, with Aramex and ourselves serving as catalysts. We are encouraged by the response to the first session and eagerly look forward to spreading this movement across the Aramex network.”

DP World holds the concession to operate the container terminal at the port, with DPWorld Maputo operating the terminal. Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Mocambique (CFM), the Mozambique Ports and Railway Authority, holds a 40 per cent share of the operating company. The concession was originally due to expire in 2018.

“Africa is a key focus of our business strategy for long term growth of DP World as we look to emerging markets to underpin the recovery of global trade,” says DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. “Efficient infrastructure both leads and drives economic sustainability. Mozambique has an exciting future and we are pleased to be part of it.”

DP World’s Mohammed Sharaf added: “We are delighted the Government of Mozambique has extended our concession out to 2033. We are committed to investing in growing DP World Maputo capacity over time in line with market demand. We have seen significant efficiency gains since we expanded our interest in the port in early 2008 and we look forward to being able to contribute even further to improving supply chain efficiency and supporting the expansion of Mozambique’s economy.”

Major logistics providers sent their best operators to participate in this challenge and test their skills on equipment provided by Linde. The aim was to enable operators to gain in-depth knowledge of the products and their advantages. The big winner for the day was Shreshta from Aramex.

For FAMCO, the display and demonstration event offered an opportunity to target existing and potential customers from the logistics, oil and gas, manufacturing and other key industries.

“Two major factors driving this growth are the rising demand for healthcare in fast-expanding economies such as China and India, as well as the rapidly ageing populations in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore,” says Sue Arden, Vice President, Global Customer Solutions, Life Sciences & Healthcare, DHL Asia Pacific. “The growth trend is not surprising given the increasing demand for quality healthcare and affluence in Asia.  By 2014, China and India will make up 50 per cent of the world’s population.”

According to Datamonitor, pharmaceutical sales in Asia Pacific amounted to USD$124.3 billion in 2009 representing 19.3 per cent of global sales. Sales are projected to grow steadily at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that exceeds 4.2 per cent from 2009 to 2014, reaching USD$153 billion. From 2005 to 2009, the China market grew the fastest with a CAGR of 21.1 per cent and is projected to grow rapidly at a CAGR of 9.7 per cent from 2009 to 2014.

“The establishment of DHL’s first China Competence Centre in Pudong International Airport, Shanghai and a second scheduled to open within 2010 in Tianjin is a clear testament to the growing demand and opportunity we see in this sector,” adds Arden.

In Australia, DHL completed a US$32 million facility for air and ocean handling at Melbourne airport in late 2009. The facility houses the new healthcare ‘Competence Center’ comprising of 50,000 sq metres and includes two cool rooms that meet GMP/TGA Standard (high FDA equivalent industry standards) for the sole purpose of handling controlled ambient and temperature sensitive products.

“In 2009 the organization further committed to invest US$15 million to develop the Competence Centers in India, Mumbai and Hyderabad targeted as the primary sites, and facility expansion in Singapore,” she adds. “We recognize that Singapore, known for its strong research facilities, not only manufactures pharmaceutical products but is also a key transportation hub receiving pharmaceutical products inbound from major manufacturing sources and providing storage and onward distribution service to Asia. The DHL Life Science Competence Centre in Singapore serves to support the thriving pharmaceutical industry and the Singapore Government’s goal of having at least 10 multi-national production facilities in operation by 2010.”

In Singapore, there are more than 30 leading biomedical sciences companies with their regional headquarters here and the Singapore Government is targeting US$17 billion in biosciences manufacturing output by 2015.

Arden added there has been an increase in the demand for quality transportation of temperature sensitive products requiring either controlled ambient or more stringent temperature monitoring.

Vaccines have emerged as one of the growth segments in the global pharmaceutical industry. With a projected CAGR of over 13 per cent from 2009 to 2012, the industry will emerge as the fastest growing sector. The US and Europe represent the two largest vaccine markets in the world and will continue experiencing healthy growth rate in future.

DHL’s global 2015 strategy is to be the ‘Logistics Provide of Choice’ with continued investment in quality infrastructure, people and processes, DHL Life Sciences & Healthcare look to be in the driving seat.

Due for completion in December 2010 the new facility will provide the complete range of Schaefer’s world renowned products and services to the Middle East and African markets where Schaefer has enjoyed success since commencing operation in the UAE in 2002, according to Managing Director Geoff Wheatley. Of special significance is the further development of their automation resources in this new building to meet the increasing demand from the regional markets for more sophisticated storage and materials handling systems.

Wheatley adds that the opportunities and success provided over the recent years by the development of the UAE logistics market has enabled Schaefer to grow significantly and provided both the financial and resources springboard to  increase their resource base in both people and buildings and further develop the regional markets in a professional and supportive manner.

He goes on to say that this US$3 million investment in what are considered  “tough times” is Schaefer’s deep commitment to their confidence in the UAE and the surrounding markets to weather the financial storm and emerge both stronger and better equipped.

Modelled along the lines of the company’s own Institute for Applied Warehouse
(IAW) in Germany, the new technology centre will enable EPS to share its
logistics expertise and unique technological platforms with regional corporates,
including logistics service providers. EPS will provide comprehensive logistics
support services from its hub centre in DLC in addition to demonstrating the
newest warehouse technologies live at the new technology centre.

EPS is located within DLC’s contract logistics area and in close proximity to
DWC-Al Maktoum International Airport. “We are delighted to open our first warehouse technology centre, right here in the heart of Middle East logistics,”
said Hermann Ehrhardt, founder and CEO of Ehrhardt+Partner Solutions. “The
ready availability of warehousing and commercial space within the same
campus, as well access to a range of suppliers and service providers is truly
unique to DLC.”

The 21.5 sq kilometre Dubai Logistics City is part of the Dubai Government’s overall 2015 strategy to enhance the emirate’s transport and logistics services and capitalise on its geographical location to make Dubai a regional hub for logistics.

“The launch of this technology centre from EPS marks a strong endorsement of
DLC and its business model in providing a dedicated world class infrastructure
for global logistics providers,” says Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai
Aviation City Corporation. “We believe DLC is an unparalleled platform within the
Middle East region, and this has been validated by the growing presence of
international logistics and support service providers in the DLC campus. In this
regard, the opening of this technology centre by EPS marks another successful
step in the rapid ongoing development of DLC as the region’s premier logistics
destination.”

“The latest inauguration marks the growing presence of a host of international
logistics companies that are leveraging the world’s first truly integrated logistics
facility at Dubai Logistics City” added Rashed Buqaraa, Chief Operation Officer
Dubai Aviation City Corporation. “At DLC, we see ourselves playing a progressively important role within the regional logistics and transport sector. We have already received commitments from over 30 leading international companies to set up a base in DLC and are seeing growing interest from a number of multinational companies looking to take advantage of our unique benefits and capabilities.”

Ramon Thoms, regional manager of Ehrhardt+Partner Solutions said: “We see
huge possibilities in DLC – this is where the most important logistics market of the future will be centred. This is why it was exceptionally important to the E+P
Group to develop such a centre to provide new warehouse solutions that will
shape the future of the logistics industry. Owing to the infrastructure we have
been provided at DLC, we are already in a position to implement complex
warehouse projects and modernizations on-site in accordance with international
quality standards.”

The EPS centre will include a state-of-the-art showroom, where the company will demonstrate modern logistic processes, including its WMS software, Pick-by-Voice, Pick-to-Light and other automated systems.

Of the companies that have committed to setting up operations in DLC, four are
currently operational. These include EPS, Calipar Integrated Services, RSA
Logistics and Kuehne & Nagel. Four other companies are currently coordinating
the construction of their facilities at Dubai Logistics City. These include Eagle
Industries, Integrated National Logistics, Aramex, and RSA Logistics (second
phase).

Located within the Dubai World Central master-planned community, DLC
currently provides comprehensive transport infrastructure, logistics and value
added services, including light manufacturing and assembly, in a single customs
bonded and Free Zone environment.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem has inspected the first section of reclaimed land as part a visit to see DP World’s newest development get underway. The dredge and reclamation programme is a key element in the £1.5 billion project at London Gateway.

London Gateway is currently one of the largest inward investments into the UK and is the single largest jobs creation project, which will create some 36,000 jobs when complete. The project will be a major positive contribution to UK business.

The deepening of the River Thames for the project will allow the world’s biggest trading vessels to once again deliver goods to the heart of the UK consumer market. This will save UK companies significant transportation and distribution costs as well as improving carbon footprints. Over 65 million freight miles will be saved every year and 140,000 tons of CO² emissions.

“Seeing new ground here at London Gateway is an excellent achievement for DP World and the London Gateway team,” said Sulayem. “I’m very pleased to be able to stand on the land where the world’s largest cargo ships will once again visit London and bring goods straight into the heart of the UK markets.”

“We are progressing with the project very well and we are on course to deliver an exceptional piece of infrastructure for the UK,” added Simon Moore, CEO of London Gateway.

The Logistics Park will offer over nine million sq feet for the distribution, manufacturing and high-tech sectors. The port, which will be one of the most automated and efficient in the world, will add an additional 3.5million TEU (twenty foot equivalent units) to the UK’s port capacity.

Gazprom Global LNG is a 100 per cent indirect subsidiary of OAO Gazprom, said to be the world’s largest natural gas company by reserves. Its activities include global trading and shipping of own and third-party LNG and business development of various LNG projects. It operates from offices in Kingston-upon-Thames, UK and Singapore.

The GAC Group says the deal takes advantage of the group’s suite of services for the oil and gas industry, ranging from ship agency, bunker fuels, weather routing and vessel performance management to maritime training.

“This deal with Gazprom Global LNG bears witness to the value of GAC’s full range of specialised and integrated services to the energy industry that can be tailored to meet the varying and evolving requirements of every client, helping them to reduce costs and increase efficiency,” says Sami Younis, GAC’s Marketing Manager – Shipping.

“We are pleased and proud to become Gazprom Global LNG’s chosen partner and look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship, supporting their ongoing international expansion.”

Frederic Barnaud, President and Managing Director of Gazprom Global LNG, adds:

“We are pleased to conclude this agreement with GAC and look forward to working together, thus extending the global reach and efficiency of our LNG shipping operations.”

As part of the agreement, Kuehne + Nagel has leased a dedicated
logistics facility in Amagasaki, located between the seaports
of Kobe and Osaka. Kuehne + Nagel says it will provide a comprehensive warehouse solution, covering layout design, material flow planning as well as the installation of modern security measures and advanced information systems integrated with Louis Vuitton’s worldwide operations. Emphasis s placed on the fulfilment of the latest environmental standards; the facility s among the first in Asia-Pacific that are accredited with an ISO14001 certification.

At the premises with a handling and storage capacity of 5,600 sq metres, Kuehne + Nagel’s services will cover the inbound receipt of goods by
sea and air, label scanning, quality and quantity checks, pick-and-pack
operations, sales-ready preparation as well as reverse logistics for the
entire range of Louis Vuitton leather goods and accessories. In addition,
Kuehne + Nagel will provide value-added services, such as pre-wrapping
and care label tagging. A dedicated team of around 20 staff will support Louis Vuitton on a 24/7-basis.

“The sophisticated nature of our supply chain requires a logistics provider to be capable of maintaining a reliable balance between efficiency, flexibility and quality,” says Dave Goualier, Manager of Logistics, Supply Chain & Quality for Louis Vuitton Japan. “The showcase operations deployed in our new state-of-the-art distribution centre underlines the competence of Kuehne + Nagel as a logistics service provider.”

“We are pleased to have been able to deliver significant improvements
to Louis Vuitton’s supply chain,” adds Holger Beyer, National Manager of Kuehne + Nagel Japan. “With our innovative portfolio of IT-based integrated services, our goal is to support the retail giant in meeting its existing and future logistics requirements.”

“Our global hub agency service is a proven concept for managing port calls efficiently on a regional or global scale,” says Capt. Tom Bjorklund, General Manager of GAC’s Global Hub Services. “We look forward to supporting Statoil further in achieving greater efficiency.”

“GAC won Statoil’s confidence through a combination of teamwork, flexibility in our service offering and plenty of sweat,” adds GAC’s Marketing Manager for Scandinavia, Peter Österman.  

GAC says another key contributing factor was its ability to cover Statoil’s IT-related demands. This was achieved through the company’s core business tool GACShip – GAC Global Hub Services’ IT system said to support the entire port call process.