The Inauguration of the First Port Logistics International Knowledge Academy (PLIKA) Conference in Barcelona.

After the announcement of the establishment of the Port Logistics International Knowledge Academy (PLIKA), as one of the outcomes of the YEP Med project, the first PLIKA Academy conference was held on Thursday, June 6, 2024, on the sidelines of the International Logistics Services Exhibition (SIL) in Barcelona. The conference was attended by founders of the academy and participants from around the world, either in person or via live broadcast. PLIKA was established through a partnership between 11 members, led by the European School of Multimodal Transport, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, the Port of Valencia Foundation, the Valencia Port Authority, the Port Authority of Barcelona in Spain, Aqaba Development Corporation in Jordan, the Mediterranean Ports Union, the Merchant Marine and Ports Authority, the Mediterranean Institute for Training in Maritime Professions in Tunisia, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Beirut, Lebanon, and the Port System Authority of the Central and Northern Tyrrhenian Sea in Civitavecchia, Italy.

The conference featured an introduction to the academy's activities and goals. The event was inaugurated by Mr. Edward Rodes, as President of the Academy, who welcomed the attendees. Then, Professor. Alaa Mahmoud Morsy, Dean of Port Training Institute and the Maritime Transport Research and Consultation Center, as Vice President, gave a presentation introducing the establishment of PLIKA, its goals, organizational structure, and future plans. Following that, Ms. Tahiyha El-Sherbiny, Coordinator of International Relations and responsible for career development center for Mariners at the Institute, in her capacity as Coordinator of the Promotional Committee and Communications for the PLIKA port community in Egypt, presented the role of the committee and the activities adopted by the Institute of Port Training as responsible for that committee.

Participation in this event comes as part of the Institute of Port Training's commitment to enhancing international cooperation with international organizations in the field of ports and maritime transport.