The leading international logistic certification institution, Global Logistic Specialist (GLS), has stepped into China, setting up its first center in Shanghai on Saturday.

The GLS China Designation Center is expected to provide training for Chinese logistic professionals.

GLS was developed by the Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT) in the United States and is one of the most authoritative logistic certification organizations in the world.

The center was introduced into China by First Light Academy, an education and consulting institution on economics, finance, logistics and management.

Professional inadequacy has been a bottleneck in China's logistic industry. The introduction is expected to help improve the professional level of China's logistic industry.

Shanghai will need more logistic professionals in anticipation of the Shanghai World Expo 2010 and to fulfill its ambition of becoming an international transportation center, said Tao Shenxian, director of the certification center on human resources for Shanghai World Expo.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2005)