China is still lacking in logistics professionalsdespite the rapid expansionof its logistics industry and developmentof training for logistics professionals,Xinhua reported, citing a report by theChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

It is difficult for both domestic andforeign-funded companies to find qualifiedlogistics professionals in China,Feng Gengzhong, CAS researchersaid, adding that China’s firms shouldstrengthen on-the-job training or otherkinds of vocational training for personnelengaged in logistics.

"Qualified professionals not onlyinclude senior managers engaged inmanagement but also well-trained logisticworkers," he said.

In 2001, only one university in Chinaoffered a specialised course in logisticsbut by 2005 the number had grown to 165. Currently, the number of studentschoosing to take logistics majors isexpanding, but most of them graduatewithout any real experience.