German government supports demand-driven warehouse operator training in Sri Lanka

Germany is ranked at the top in the World Logistics Performing Index

In cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Sri Lanka, the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) and the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), leading logistic companies in Sri Lanka such as Aitken Spence, EFL Global, Hayleys Advantis, Hellmann MAS, John Keells joined the training initiative.

They will provide practical in-company training for 35 trainees to become officially according to German and Sri Lankan standards certified Warehouse Operators.

A new German-certified cooperative vocational training for Warehouse Operators was officially launched by AHK Sri Lanka and GIZ Sri Lanka together with TVEC at an online kickoff event held on 2nd August 2021. Certified by AHK Sri Lanka and TVEC, the five logistics industry forerunners Aitken Spence Logistics, EFL Global, Hayleys Advantis, Hellmann MAS Supply Chains, and John Keells Logistics will provide on-the-job training for these trainees.

The training is part of the GIZ Vocational Training Programme in Sri Lanka (VTSL), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The VTSL programme supports Sri Lankan public training institutes and private sector partners in strengthening industry-driven, demand-based cooperative training. This goes hand in hand with the dual training approach of AHK Sri Lanka, who is the implementation and certification partner for the project.

In his opening statement Chief Delegate of German Industry and Commerce Andreas Hergenroether stated: “We are convinced that this industry and demand driven training will increase the competitiveness of the participating logistic companies. Germany has been ranked for many years at the top in the World Logistics Performing Index, there is a unique knowhow in Germany with regard to dual training in logistics. In 2020 more than 67,000 dual training contracts have been concluded in the field of logistics.”

The Warehouse Operator Training will be certified by AHK Sri Lanka based on the German dual vocational qualification of Warehouse Operator (“Fachlagerist”) and is aligned with the National Competency Standard for “Logistics Operations” (Storekeeper)”. Dual vocational training in Germany is supervised and certified by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (IHK) and AHK Sri Lanka is the only organization in Sri Lanka officially mandated by the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce to certify dual vocational training abroad according to German IHK training standards.