Purchasing and supply chain management is key to fight the growing menace of counterfeiting, Michael Campbell, director of business development of the UK-based Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS), said.

"Counterfeiting has been a growing challenge for procurement professionals around the world since a long time now. This is where the knowledge of the supply chain becomes very important. Making sure that people understand their supply network behind them not just the front end is most important in the fight against counterfeiting," he told The Business Weekly.

Ken James, chief executive at CIPS who was also present in the meeting, said, "Dubai and the region is witnessing tremendous growth for the past few years. When you are growing very rapidly, it's very easy to run out of supply. So, understanding the supply chain market and knowing where you can get quality products and how you manage it needs a particular skill. Purchasing and Supply Chain Management training helps professionals acquire this skill."

CIPS currently has over 44,000 members in over 130 different countries. Campbell said the UAE can be a foundation for the CIPS to work wider over the GCC. "We will set up our Middle East headquarters in Dubai sometime next year. We have got the basics in place. We want to serve as much as possible throughout the GCC. We are currently in negotiations with people in other parts of the GCC like Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain as well to offer our training," he said.

The CIPS is the leading international body representing purchasing and supply management professionals. It is a not-for profit charity organization, which is regulated in the UK. "We put all the money we make back into doing good things for the procurement and supply profession. The source of funding for the organization is from memberships, education (research), publishing, conferences, trainings etc. All that income is put back into the betterment of profession," James said.

In the UAE, CIPS is working with major corporates and government organizations. Shaikha Lubna, Minster of Economy was the patron of last years Middle East CIPS conference.

The institute has worked with Zakum Development CompanyZakum Development Company (ZADCOZADCO), Emirates airline, ADCO, GascoGasco, Dubai Ports, Dubal, Dubai Financial City, among others.

By Pradeep Palat

© The Business Weekly 2007

 

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