BELFAST HARBOUR WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES TO UNCTAD GLOBAL PORT MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

BELFAST HARBOUR WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL DELEGATES TO UNCTAD GLOBAL PORT MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Belfast Harbour will this week play host to a prestigious training programme for senior port management professionals from around the world, organised by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Delivered in cooperation with the Port of Cork Company and Dublin Port Company, with the support of Irish Aid, UNCTAD’s Modern Port Management training workshop will welcome delegates from countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, The Philippines and The Solomon Islands.

The UNCTAD workshop will take place between March 25 and April 1, covering a range of topics, including digital port management, data security, port accounting, port law and regulation and management of port infrastructure.

UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with offices in New York and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

It supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalised economy more fairly and effectively, providing analysis, facilitating consensus-building, and offering technical assistance to help countries use trade, investment, finance and technology as vehicles for inclusive and sustainable development.

Mark Assaf, Chief of the Human Resources Development Section, TrainForTrade at UNCTAD said: “UNCTAD is proud to bring the TrainForTrade Port Management Programme to Belfast Harbour, working closely with Irish Ports and supported by Irish Aid to strengthen the efficiency and competitiveness of port operations worldwide.

“Ports are strategic gateways at the heart of national economies and global supply chains. Through this programme, we foster the exchange of experience and best practices among port professionals, enabling them to optimise performance, enhance resilience, and respond to evolving global challenges.

“Over nine days in Belfast, port professionals from around the world will learn firsthand from the recent digital transformation journey of Belfast Harbour, gaining practical insights into how innovation can drive smarter and more efficient port operations. By connecting port communities across regions, we are not only building skills – we are strengthening the foundations of more efficient, integrated, and sustainable global trade.”

Michael Robinson, Port Director at Belfast Harbour, said: “We are excited to welcome colleagues from ports around the globe to Belfast this week for what I’m sure will be an important and incredibly valuable learning experience.

“As well as the formal training workshops, we look forward to the opportunity to share experiences and best practice with port professionals from elsewhere in the world. We are really pleased to continue our work with UNCTAD and to contribute to its objectives by having key members of Belfast Harbour’s team to play a significant role in delivering this training in partnership with colleagues from Port of Cork and Dublin Port.”