The Hambantota International Port (HIP) entered into a partnership with the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), to provide training programs for youth in areas adjacent to the port.
The program has been developed to ready trainees for possible employment in port and allied industries.
NAITA is no stranger to the Hambantota International Port as their global partner CMPort has worked with them since 2012 for their Colombo operation CICT. More than 80% of operations staff in CICT are young talent who entered the industry through the CMPort/NAITA partnership. CMPort also signed a three-year MoU with NAITA in April 2017 which was facilitated through HIP. In this agreement, HIP and NAITA will provide vocational training in industrial areas related to Port Operations. Training programs would be in basic firefighting, crane operating and general operations for 15 trainees per batch. Fourteen trainees successfully completed the first training program on ‘Basic Fire Fighting’ recently. The best of the batch will be considered for employment at HIP, based on the company’s needs.
“Caring for People and Planet are the main focus areas of our CSR and sustainable development program. The training programs with NAITA come under the scope of ‘Caring for people’ as this would not only introduce port related vocational opportunities for youth from the region, but it would also increase their employability so they would be able to find jobs with organisations of their choice. Trainees will receive certificates with local and international recognition,” said CEO, Hambantota International Port Group (Pvt) Ltd, Ray Ren.
The second intake of trainees is due to begin next month and its scope will be expanded to train crane operators and operations assistants.