In a bold move to further improve the standards of the maritime and shipping industry in Sri Lanka,Sri Lanka Associationof NVOCC Agents (SLANA)has signed a key initiative signifiesthe two organisations’ commitment toworking towards advancing the future of the industry by creating a younger, more inclusive, and collaborative professional atmosphere that allows young maritime professionals to actively participate in the industry early on in their careers by providing a range of professional hand-on experience and training opportunities.
Recognised as the apex organisation that represents the NVOCC Agents in Sri Lanka to the world, SLANA signed the MoU to support YoungShip Sri Lanka – a non-profit organisation founded with the mission to support young members of the maritime and shipping industry – to help represent themselves as the premiere youth forum of the SLANAorganization in Sri Lanka.
The collaboration between SLANA and YoungShip provides opportunities for knowledge sharing between youth and experienced professionals, eventplanning and organization, and engagement in critical projects related to the maritime and shipping industry. The partnership is expected to ensure that younger leadership canleverage innovation, creativity, technology and fresh perspectives to inject a brand-new thought pattern to further ongoing established processes toimprove industry’s current best practices.
Established in 2016, the mission ofSLANAis to protect the interest of its trade in all aspects and provide a platform for SME’s that meaningfully contribute to the shipping industry and economy of the country. Relatively, its younger counterpart, YoungShip Sri Lanka, which was established in 2013, is recognized as the Sri Lankan branch of YoungShip International – a world-renowned professional non-profit organisation for young people working within the global maritime industry.
The youth organization welcomes members (between the age of 20 to 40) from all areas of the industry (from students to established professionals) who share the passion and belief that young people are the most significant constituents to ensuring growth and ongoing success for the industry.Through this venture, the parties are confident that the move will uplift more youth professionals involved in the maritime and shipping industry.