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Dublin, Cork and Belfast ports have signed an MOU with UNCTAD on helping ports in developing countries, including the Philippines, become more productive and efficient
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The four-year agreement commits the three ports to provide training for participants in UNCTAD’s TrainForTrade port management program
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One of the more than 6,500 port managers globally who trained under the program was Philippine Ports Authority assistant general manager Hector Miole
Ports in Ireland and Northern Ireland have recommitted their support to UNCTAD’s program helping ports in developing countries, including the Philippines, boost productivity and efficiency.
Dublin Port Co., Port of Cork Co. and Belfast Harbour signed on April 7 a new four-year agreement with the UN body renewing their partnership with its TrainForTrade port management program.
With ships carrying more than 80% of the goods people buy, from food to medicine to electronics, ports play a crucial role in trade and socioeconomic development, a fact highlighted by COVID-19.
Restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the virus had led to delays in ports that put a strain on global supply chains and contributed to higher prices for consumers.
“The pandemic reminded the world that when ports slow down, everyone suffers,” said United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan said in a statement.
Ambassador Michael Gaffey of Ireland added: “Climate change, COVID-19 and the war (in Ukraine) have shown the importance of building resilient ports.”
One of the thousands of port professionals trained by the program is Hector Miole, who decades ago started his career as a terminal operator and is now the assistant general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority, one of TrainForTrade’s members.
Miole credits the training with helping him rise through the ranks and making him a more effective manager. Beyond improving his knowledge and skills, he said the program allowed him to replicate in the Philippines solutions from other ports.
“Understanding the growth and development of Dublin port and how the port of Cork managed its cruise and passenger ferry businesses were important guideposts during my visit,” Miole said after taking part in training workshops.
Dublin partnered with UNCTAD in 2007, followed by Cork in 2014 and Belfast in 2018.
The three ports will provide support by hosting training activities, such as courses to certify managers from ports in Africa, Asia and Latin America as program instructors. Staff from the Irish and Northern Irish ports will also help produce and update the training material.
These cover all aspects of managing a port efficiently, from reducing the environmental impact of operations to speeding up ship wait times to building resilience to pandemics and crises.
Senior managers from Dublin, Cork and Belfast will help deliver training modules in many of the hundreds of ports that are part of the TrainForTrade network.
Grynspan said the Irish and Northern Irish ports’ commitment and professionalism have been key to the success and longevity of the program, which has trained and certified more than 6,700 port managers in 140 countries since 1996.
“These trained officials make a difference in the way their ports are run,” she said.
Gaffey said this collaborative spirit is the heart of TrainForTrade. “The programme unites port professionals from developed and developing countries to work on the same challenges. It’s a matter of working together and exchanging knowledge and experiences.”
Port of Cork’s head of human resources, Peter O’Shaughnessy, also sees the endeavour as a win-win. ”Much is given by our port, and much is received in return,” he said.
“Our own port team equally gains from our involvement as we also see our own people learning, broadening their experience, strengthening their knowledge and understanding of our industry and growing a network of contacts globally.”
The signing ceremony was attended by high-level representatives of Cambodia, Ghana, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Philippines and Tanzania, which all have ports that are part of the programme. Belfast Harbour was represented by Captain Kevin Allen.
