The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCC&I) in association with Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) organized an Online Certification Course on “Global Logistics & Trade Documentation” on 25th, 26th and 27th August 2021. The duration of the course was for nine hours with three hours of session each day. The course was organized with the help of faculty from IIFT and the industry leaders, pertaining to mainly Shipping and Logistics. 

The focus of the course was to encourage participants in bringing coherence and to increase collaboration amongst them, representing different stakeholders. The course helped in learning the functions of various stakeholders, understand their issues and challenges, etc for the benefit of the trade. Besides, it provided understanding to the participants on the international business, especially from the legal, procedural, financial, logistics and supply chain perspectives and helped them in developing strategies and meeting the challenges in international business transactions. 

The three day course was inaugurated by Mr S Hajara, Chairperson, Shipping and Logistics Committee, BCC&I and it was conducted by senior faculty from IIFT like Dr Deepankar Sinha, Professor & Head - Research Division [Management], Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Kolkata Campus, Programme Director – Centre for Trade Facilitation and Logistics [CTFL], IIFT & Member – Technical Committee – IT Infrastructure, IIFT & Guest Editor – Global Supply Chain Management [Special Issue], Foreign Trade Review, Sage Pubs, Dr Jayanta Kumar Seal,  Professor, Accounting and Finance  Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Kolkata, Mr Mannu Choudhary, Secretary, Calcutta Customs House, Agents Association (CCHAA) & Managing Director, Masum Agencies Pvt Ltd and Mr Subhojit Roy, Advocate enrolled with the Bar Council of West Bengal since July 2000 n  Partner of VICTOR MOSES & CO., Solicitors and Advocates since 2012 and Head of Division, Intellectual Property Rights, Victor Moses & Co. n  Member, Incorporated Law Society, Calcutta High Court, Kolkata and represents clients before Supreme Court of India, various High Courts and District Courts, Judicial Tribunals and Forum and in arbitration. 

The course was attended by Shipping Agents, Shipping Lines, Port Officials, Customs Brokers, Stevedores/Cargo Handling Agents, Clearing and Forwarding Agents/Freight Forwarders, Logistics Service Providers, Supply Chain Operators, Exporters and Importers, Maritime Lawyers, Vessel and Barge Owners/Operators, Representatives from the Ship and Barge Building and Repairing Industry, Maritime Institutes, Manufacturers, etc and the total number of participants present were 77 approx.

The course was an eye-opener for the participants as it provided a clear understanding on the overall logistics operations globally and also on the procedures of trade documentation for the benefit of EXIM trade and industry at large.