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MALTA\\\


Freight industry training has become a big issue in Malta, as it has in many other parts of the world. While high level courses in logistics are available from the local university, more is needed to give people a practical grounding in the industry, says Ray Buttigieg, general manager at


local agent


and DHL Global Forwarding representative, BAS Malta. “We’re pushing for courses to train people at a slightly lower level than university and we have been in touch with the local M-CAST school, as well as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Malta,” he says. “The idea is to have a course specifically for the logistics industry.” At the moment in Malta, as in


many parts of the world, people tend to learn the business ‘on the job’, but it would be very useful


to give people a grounding in the industry before they start work he believes: “Even basic knowledge, such as what an air waybill is, or a bill of lading, or basic customs procedures, would be useful.” Logistics, he considers, has


never been given the importance it deserves, considering the number of people that work in the industry – possibly several thousand in the case of Malta, when all those with responsibility for freight and logistics at manufacturers, retailers and others are taken into account. Ray Buttigieg has given quite


a few training courses himself, as part of the effort to upgrade airfreight security,


is an approved instructor. (in classes of


for which he “So


far this year I’ve trained 200 people


around 20-25 at a time) mainly people


from our customers who have responsibility for shipping and logistics. We see it as a free added service to our clients.” Buttigieg has even taken the


security courses himself, as required by the regulations. Certification,


accreditation –


it’s a fact of life for any company involved in logistics these days, and especially in sensitive areas like airfreight or pharmaceuticals. Malta’s position close to North Africa means that airfreight security tends to be especially tight. BAS is an Authorised Economic Operator under the new EU scheme, and it is also certified under the pharma industry’s


Good Distribution


Practice (GDP) scheme - and it recently gained ISO 9001 certification. It is also licensed to handle


Issue 4 2015 - Freight Business Journal


Logistics industry needs to upskill, says BAS Malta chief


dangerous goods with an independent safety advisor authorised by the local authority as required under local Malta regulations. BAS Malta is also audited by


DHL Global Forwarding, for which it is the Malta agent, in connection with the Thermonet door-to- door service for temperature- controlled products. “DHL visit our set-up, interview staff and check how everything is working,” explains Buttigieg. Sensors are used to detect any temperature ‘excursions’


and standard


operating procedures are laid down on what to do should one occur. “It all gives confidence to the shipper that they can ship temperature-sensitive goods to or from Malta.” The pharma traffic, an increasing percentage of which


is moved under temperature- controlled conditions, is very important to DHL in Malta, especially for exports. This was reflected in DHL’s decision to hold its last Life Sciences conference on the island in October 2014. Imported flowers are another


big trade for DHL on Malta. The DHL freighter brings in consignments on Mondays and Tuesdays, principally for the island’s wedding industry. Over 100,000kg have been handled since September 2014, says Ray Buttigieg.


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