CIP Holidays Message 2020

 

Happy Holidays!
CIP Secretariat Message

December 2020 - January 2021

2020 has been, without a doubt, a most challenging year. The COVID-19 pandemic and the negative impacts on health, social and economic systems has affected us all. The social distancing and lockdowns in several countries at different times made it impossible for the CIP Secretariat to organize on-site events or offer in-person training programs. This situation presented the Secretariat with an opportunity to re-invent itself and, in order to provide pertinent port and maritime sector training to our members, transform itself into a relevant provider of on-line training and capacity building activities.

In this context, the Secretariat thanks and acknowledges the invaluable support from Peru's National Port Authority with whom we offered 401 scholarships to Caribbean and Latin American port officials from 29 CIP-OAS Member States for 12 online certified professional development courses. Likewise, with the support of the Mexico ISPS International Network and the Fundación ValenciaPort, the CIP Secretariat was able to hold 14 Webinars that exposed over 3,000 port officers from 27 CIP-OAS Member States to successful practices, strategic information, and industry trends on topics such as port security, digitalization and automation, trade, disaster risk management, dredging, cruise ports, port-city relationship and port governance, and logistics. As this year draws to a close, the CIP Secretariat intends to continue this robust training offer for 2021 and, if possible, re-incorporate on-site hemispheric events, such as the XII Meeting of the CIP, scheduled for May 19-21, 2021 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Looking forward to continue collaborating with our Members for the development of a competitive, sustainable, secure, and inclusive port sector in the Americas, we wish you safe, healthy and happy Holidays and the best for 2021,

The CIP Secretariat: Mona, Montse, Sabina, Paola and Jorge