There is need to bring together stakeholders in the logistics subsector more often. There are opportunities to learn from each other, benchmark against international players and create greater business opportunities. These sentiments were expressed by participants at the workshop on International Best Practices in Transport and Logistics held by Kenya Shippers Council on 17-18 February 2011 at the Sarova Whitesands Hotel, Mombasa. The workshop was sponsored by USAID-COMPETE, Kenya Maritime Authority, Siginon Freight (K) Ltd, SGS Kenya Limited, and Kenya National Highways Authority.

In line with the Council’s mandate of awareness creation and promotion of best practice, the workshop was geared at identifying ways that business can benchmark their logistics operations against other players in the region who have international exposure to reduce costs and time taken to move their goods.  Besides cost and service levels, companies shared logistics strategies they employ to provide value-added services, flexibility, or innovation. It was a useful forum for both regulatory and private sector players to interact and share knowledge on competitive strategies.

Presenters and participants were drawn from importers and exporters, government agencies and service providers ranging from freight forwarding (sea and air), road hauliers, shipping lines, container freight station operators, warehousing, cargo consolidators, and ground and cargo handling providers, sea and air freight regulators, roads authorities. Insurance Companies, banks, the US Embassy and US Coast Guard among others also attended. (Presentations available on www.kenyashippers.org