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Logistic experts needed

(Left to right) Helmut Blumbach, director of DAAD’s department for programmes - southern hemisphere, Chris Savage, deputy director of the Namibian-German Centre for Logistics, Tjama Tjivikua, rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia, Andre Scholz, deputy head of mission of the German embassy and Thomas Schmidt, project director of the Namibian-German Centre for Logistics at the 4th DAAD networking meeting of the African centres. (Photograph by Yvonne Amukwaya)The Namibian-German Centre for Logistics, which was inaugurated in 2009, will introduce the second part of the masters degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at the Polytechnic of Namibia, in July this year.
The centre of logistics was developed at the Polytechnic of Namibia with the assistance of German funding to educate the Polytechnic’s students in logistics and transport and in so doing, enhancing economic development  in the country.
Speaking at the 4th annual networking meeting at the Polytechnic Hotel School, Tjama Tjivikua, rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia, said “this international development partnership through the Network of African Centres of Excellence is just but one demonstration of what can be achieved on the challenges facing Africa.”
Helmut Blumbach, director of the department for DAAD programmes: southern hemisphere, said his government, through DAAD, will continue to support the centre until 2013 when their first contract ends and extended a further five years to the already existing partnership.
Andre Scholz, deputy head of mission at the German embassy, said that the cultural co-operation between Germany and Namibia is remarkable and outstanding. He said that this initiative is beneficial to both countries and that the centre will produce leaders in transport and logistics.
Also speaking at the event, Chris Savage, deputy director of the Namibian-German Centre for Logistics, said that Africa does not have a sound logistics operations system.
Savage added that in southern Africa, it is expensive and at times difficult to run logistic businesses due to a number of reasons such as delays at borders and little expertise.

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