Articles

A Train-the-Trainers (TOT) Programme for the FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarders was organised jointely by thr FIATA Foundation and the Association des feright Forwarders du Maroc AFFM from 4 to 18 Septembre.

For the last 16 years Morocco has initiated a voluntary policy of major infrastructure projects, promoting growth in several sectors. The logistics industry has also benefited from significant public and private investment. Morocco has initiated sectorial reforms through liberalisation of Road Transport (2003), Air Transport (open skies, 2005), Maritime Transport (open seas, 2006) and Port reform (2007). This is to support the policy of a liberal economy, its advanced status with the European Union and free-trade agreements with more than 55 countries.
In this context, training and education in our sector have become one of our major priorities. AFFM looks forward to validating its FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding at the FIATA World Congress 2017. Meanwhile, after the TOT course, working groups have been formed for each of the 14 FIATA Minimum Standards in Freight Forwarding. A designated trainer for each standard is responsible for leading a team of trainers dedicated to developing material, lesson plans, assessments and instructional tools.
LOCALS AND GLOBALS
A total of 17 participants attended the course and were instructed by four international facilitators: Mr Thomas Sim, Master Trainer and ABVT Chairman; Dr Vincent Valentine from the Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD, Switzerland; Mr Uwe Schick, Director of Studies, Head of Department for Forwarding & Logistics and Senior Teacher, Julius‐LeberSchule, Germany; and Dr Peter Wong, Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, Hong Kong PolyU.
In order to ensure coverage of local specificities, five local trainers instructed participants in the areas of customs, legal matters, and all modes of transport. A comprehensive set of source materials, including hard and soft copies, were distributed to participants. Noteworthy is that for the first time the TOT course was accompanied by a new electronic examination. Participants answered the exam on their laptops, ensuring transparency and a faster assessment of results.
THE AFFM ACADEMY IS ON
The FFVT will accompany AFFM in its endeavour to implement these new training programmes. AFFM shows with this step that it is particularly active in defending the interests of our industry by introducing the profession of freight forwarder in the national regulations. AFFM has played an important role in the promotion and development of the Transport and Logistics sector in Morocco. Today, it can become a key player in our industry’s education through the creation of the AFFM Academy. The closing ceremony witnessed the signature of an agreement with the Casablanca Port Institute. This collaboration will help bring training to the next level.

N°.115/Decembre 2016 FIATA REVIEW