The Australian government has announced a new project that aims to map transport and logistics skills requirements and competencies in the Asia-Pacific region.

The project, announced yesterday by Australia’s assistant minister for education and training senator Simon Birmingham at the second Global Skills Training Forum in Sydney, aims to develop regional occupational standards validated by industry representatives from the transport and logistics sector in Australia, China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Foreign minister Julie Bishop said the Australian government would provide A$259k (£121k) towards the new project.

Bishop added the funding would help improve standards of skills training across the region and make it easier for workers trained to these standards to receive mutual recognition in other countries. The funding would also help address skills shortages, and boost competitiveness and productivity in regional economies including Australia, she said.

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