Message of greeting

In the past few decades, the world has developed at a rapid pace. In many respects, it has moved closer together. Modern information technology connects people and builds bridges in ways we could not have imagined just a short while ago. At the same time, for a large number of companies in different countries on different continents, globalization and increasing commercial interdependencies give rise to the following question on a daily basis: how do goods reach the right destination at the right time? This is where the logistics industry has a key role to play.

Without this particular industry, an efficient division of labour at home and abroad would not be possible. There will be an even stronger demand for the services these companies provide in the next few years. At the same time, qualified staff will be sought after ? people to whom working in international teams comes naturally. As such, the development of intercultural skills is crucial. For only people who embrace different cultures and come to grips with different working methods while at the same time realistically assessing their own strengths and also limits will operate successfully in an international environment.

I welcome the idea of bringing together graduates and young professionals from different countries for an interactive business simulation. This will encourage them to demonstrate their intercultural skills, their professional expertise and their management skills. For this reason I am delighted to act as patron of the "DHL Discover Logistics" initiative. I wish all the participants in the logistics business simulation every success and trust it will provide them with valuable experience.