Training initiative aims to ensure service proficiency

High service levels will establish Corridor status Kevin Mayhew TRAINING THAT provides greater opportunities for the transport sector in Namibia has been boosted by the introduction of the Commercial Advancement Training Scheme (CATS). The initiative, which intends to cut down on the number of companies pursuing individual training efforts, has the support of all the members of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), which is a joint operation of transport stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, according to the WBCG business development executive, Frank Gschwender. He says capacity building of the organisation focuses on, among other things, facilitation of training programmes for stakeholders of the WBCG. “This is a long-term approach to maintain or improve the level of proficiency of both public and private sector stakeholders and so secure the service level of Corridor operators and regulators. It is only through continuously high service levels that the Walvis Bay Corridor will maintain its position as a model corridor on the African continent,” says Gschwender. The CATS programme provides for the integration of theoretical and practical workplace learning to secure the relevance of the training. The programme assists participating companies and institutions in complying with affirmative action requirements in Namibia. It has been introduced with the financial assistance of the German institute INWENT, the Polytechnic of Namibia and CATS South Africa which prepared the programme for Namibia.