The Global Institute of Logistics was established in 2003 in response to the global logistics industry’s call for “joined up thinking” amongst the stakeholders in the global supply chain. The Institute provides practitioners with an international forum for peer group networking, discussion and learning on latest developments in global maritime logistics strategy. GIL's objective is to provide the global maritime logistics industry with a forum through which global shippers, 3PLs, carriers, port authorities and terminal operators can collaborate closely to share their knowledge so as to improve supply chain efficiency. Stakeholders are encouraged to co-operate closely and consistently in leveraging best industry practices to add real value to the supply chain management process. GIL has two distinct parts acting as both a Think Tank and Membership organization.As a Think Tank GIL acts as a bridge between the academic world and the world of business, educating the global supply chain community on the latest in academic thinking while at the same time balancing and correcting the various hypotheses emanating from the academic community with the real experience of early adopters. Balancing theory and practice, the Institute follows the conjecture emanating from the leading academics and institutions with a view to understanding the future of the global logistics industry. The work of the Think Tank is concerned with resolving the challenges that have beset the global maritime logistics industry as a consequence of a long tradition of managing single transport modes and modal systems and setting targets on the efficiency of stand-alone logistics operations.This Modus Operandi has set in place a culture that 'disintegrates' rather than integrates our freight and supply chain systems, this culture has become all the more destructive with the lengthening of the supply chain as a result of global sourcing and selling. Globalization is demanding a new ways of thinking and new ways of dealing with the challenges of fully integrating business processes along extended and complex global maritime supply chain systems. Nowhere is the need more evident than in the container logistics supply chain,this is the area in which the Institute has been particularly active in researching and our work continually points us to the potential of the Port Authority to radically intervene in the process as an agent of change. As a Membership Organization for international port communities, the Institute is focused on identifying best practice and building international standards of excellence through engagement with Port Authorities, logistics providers, shipping companies and other maritime supply chain organizations. This, in turn, creates a platform through which knowledge is shared, best practice is adopted and trade developed. Indeed research findings emanating from our Think Tank conclude that Port Authority’s are in the ideal position to influence the quality of logistics in its sphere of influence and that in essence it is possible to “improve global maritime logistics one port at a time” Since its inception in 2003 GIL has established local Chapters in the United States, China and in Europe. The Institute's mission is to 'Improve Global Logistics One Port at a Time'.

The Global Institute of Logistics, in its role as industry facilitator, is dedicated to developing close relationships with the international port community. With this in mind, at the core of our methodology is continuous engagement with key maritime global hubs, in order to drive research and instigate best practice initiatives. The Institute works with individual port communities to develop think tanks comprised of Thought Leaders; individuals that have been identified by their peer group as the key influencers in the shaping of the local logistics structure. This enables the Institute to organize shared knowledge events that allow these think tanks to connect with the Institute's international network of Members, creating a continuous stream of knowledge from which global standards and benchmarks can be developed. This in turn enables the Global Institute of Logistics to deliver on its pledge to 'Improve Global Logistics One Port at a Time'. Knowledge Missions The Institute conducts Knowledge Missions to each of the key global maritime cargo hubs, with the resulting knowledge gathered from these missions fueling all of the Institute's activities and research. A typical Knowledge Mission consists of Conferences, Benchmarking, Consulting and meetings with our Network. Conferences include the Institute's World Port Strategy Forums as well as attendance at important industry events. Benchmarking includes visiting ports and other logistics centers in search of logistics best practice, and to compare the experiences of those we meet with existing Institute knowledge. The Institute, and its member network, also provide consulting with reference to logistics topics. A key part of any Knowledge Mission is meeting those within the Institute's Global Network. Such meetings are an invaluable opportunity to share and compare experiences, as well as to gather valuable feedback that can be incorporated into the Institute's future strategy.