IIFT & APEC-Antwerp Sign MoU to Strengthen Trade and Logistics Education.

In March 2025, New Delhi-based Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), and Antwerp (Belgium)-based APEC-Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center, a leading training institute affiliated with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance academic collaboration and knowledge exchange in the fields of global trade, logistics, and supply chain management.

      - The MoU aims to bolster trade education and training ties between India and Belgium by facilitating faculty and student exchanges for improved cross-cultural business learning.

      - The MoU was signed in the presence of key dignitaries, including Union Minister Jitin Prasada and Ajay Bhadoo from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), Professor Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice-Chancellor of IIFT, along with senior faculty from IIFT. The Belgian delegation included His Excellency Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of the Flemish Government, and Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges International.

      - The strategic partnership between IIFT and the Port of Antwerp was initiated in 2019 when 206 IIFT students visited the port for practical learning experiences. This collaboration has since focused on enhancing the academic and professional understanding of global trade, logistics, and supply chain management.

Main Point :-   (i) The MoU includes collaborative efforts in joint research on port management, international logistics, and trade facilitation. It also aims to provide specialized training programs, workshops, and foster industry interactions to enhance practical learning and skill development in these critical sectors.

      (ii) The partnership will focus on transferring knowledge in vital emerging areas such as e-governance, digital trade, and new business technologies. This will help to equip students and professionals with the skills necessary to navigate modern challenges in the global trade and logistics sector.

(iii) Following the MoU signing, a roundtable discussion was held, where the Minister-President of Belgium interacted with IIFT alumni who had previously visited APEC. They shared their insights and key takeaways from the experience, highlighting how the collaboration has benefited their professional growth and understanding of global trade practices.
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