Express Shipping & Logistics (E.A.) Ltd (ESL) recently launched the 11th Cohort of its bi-annual Future Leadership Program (FLP) at its offices in Mombasa. Started in 2016, the FLP is a program where recent undergraduates undergo practical learning experience for a period of six months where they can practice the theory they learned in college. ESL has a similar program in both Tanzania & Uganda where it operates.
The FLP 11th edition recruited 11 interns bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 90 in Kenya alone with a job absorption rate of over 90 percent.
“ESL values leadership as one of its core values and we wish to bring this out in every individual in every aspect of their lives,” Mr. Silvester Kututa the Founder and Chairman of ESL said.
Other than helping to prepare recent graduates for the labor market, the FLP Program serves to provide interns with the opportunity to participate in areas of ESL activities.
The program complements the current heightened activities aimed to promote Maritime Education and Training to bridge the country’s gap and create a workforce needed to unlock the ‘Blue Economy’.
Apart from rolling out maritime-related training in many learning institutions, the government 2019 converted what was then known as Bandari College into a center of excellence and named it Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA).
A new degree program in Marine Engineering was launched in the recent past at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)
In response to the shortcomings that the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) observed in the existing maritime training programs in the country characterized by un-harmonized content that varied in time, relevance, and coverage, the Authority developed the Maritime Transport Logistics (MTL) curricula at Certificate and Diploma level.
The curriculum was developed in collaboration with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.
ESL is a leading logistics, clearing & forwarding and shipping service provider serving the entire region of sub-Saharan Africa independently and through other productive synergies sharing the spirit of excelling in the shipping industry, with a physical presence in Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Lamu Nairobi, Malaba and Kampala. Currently, ESL covers Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi & Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The group has gained popularity through its distinctive service provision. Its existence can be traced back to a humble beginning in 2001, with its mission being powering its customers to market leadership.
“We provide distinctive land, sea, and air supply chain management solutions within the East and Central African region. We have associates from various international shipping, logistics, freight forwarding, and project management consisting of importers, exporters, charterers, ship owners, P&I clubs, NVOCCs, Shipping Lines, and consultancy organizations,” Kututa said.
The services ESL provides include Ships Chartering, Ships Agency, Ships Management, and Global Logistics. Other services include Clearing & Forwarding, Surface Transportation, Crewing Agency, and Consultancy.
The agency’s services and levels of professionalism have been approved by BIMCO (Copenhagen), the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) UK and AEO (Authorized Economic Operator), and FONASBA.
The company handles over 3.1 million metric tons of dry bulk cargo per year.
It has also been accorded both the national and regional Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) status by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), a privilege that is given to companies that uphold high standards allowing them to clear goods without going through rigorous procedures.
This article was published by an editorial consultant and can be reached via githua.kihara@gmail.com
