Tata Motors along with Tata Motors Finance Group has entered a strategic tie-up with Kool-ex Cold Chain to supply 200 fully-built reefer trucks manufactured by Tata Motors. The reefer units used for this deal will be built on the popular Tata LPT 1613 MCV trucks and the Tata LPT 2518 Multi-axle truck. Shyam Mani, Managing Director, Tata Motors Finance Group, says, “As a part of this tie-up, we will not only be providing vehicle financing through Tata Motors Finance (TMFL) but will also provide mezzanine equity financing to the company through Tata Motors Finance Solutions (TMFSL), making this a structured financing deal. We are confident that this complete package will deliver the best for all companies who are a part the deal and will lay a strong foundation for a continued association ahead.”

At FFFAI’s ninth Executive Committee meeting in New Delhi, several issues, including the recently-announced national cargo policy, draft logistics policy, recent changes in GST, and trade opportunities between India and Iran, were discussed. Asghar Omidi, Counsellor, Economic Section, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasised on the strategic importance of Chabahar Port in Iran to script the success of the Indo-Iran trade relationship, which has already been enjoying a rich cultural as well as personal relationship of people of the two countries. He pointed out that presently, India is Iran’s sixth trade partner, with $13.10bn in trade, and with support from Indian logistics stakeholders, the bilateral trade can be increased manifold. “The India-Iran bilateral trade can easily reach $20bn in the near future,” he said. Omidi also invited Indian freight forwarders and logistics companies to visit Iran to witness infrastructure facilities, including Chabahar Port, and explore business opportunities. Facilities at Chabahar Port are being developed in association with Government of India and Indian expertise, and the first phase of the port is operational now.

The Indian government has introduced a new transhipment procedure using an electronic cargo tracking system to facilitate the transport of Nepal-bound transit cargo from Kolkata, a significant move that will simplify border formalities, reduce transit time, ensure safety of the consignment, and boost bilateral trade. The first train carrying Nepal-bound transit containers under the new simplified transhipment procedure was flagged off on February 15 by Kolkata Port Trust. According to a press statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs of the Government of India launched such a modality on pilot basis on rail route from Kolkata/Haldia to Birgunj via Raxual Land Customs Station and Biratnagar via Bathnaha Railway Station and Jogbani Land Customs Station.

DP World signed a partnership with Virgin Hyperloop One last year to develop a cargo transporter. The port operator DP World has zeroed down on India to launch its first cargo hyperloop, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World, stated. The company is eager to now move on to the next step. “We are investing in something we believe is going to add value,” Sulayem said. He described hyperloop’s technology as a potential transformative solution for the country of 1.3 billion, as it would run underground.

Blue Dart has launched its new state-of-the-art aviation facility strategically located near Terminal-1 (Domestic) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. The facility measures 4300 sqm and is equipped with both air and city-side access, enabling fast and efficient transfer of shipments, improving transit times, and further strengthening Blue Dart’s market-leading service quality. The new facility is equipped with dedicated ground handling with superior equipment, automation, world-class infrastructure, and advanced technologies to support handling of express shipments within the shortest time possible, in compliance with security and safety protocols.

Maersk has commenced its first inland containerised cargo movement in India through the country’s first multimodal terminal on River Ganga (National Waterway-1), from Varanasi to Kolkata. The shipping line deployed 16 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) on MV Rabindranath Tagore that will be plying from the Varanasi terminal to RR Jetty in Kolkata, covering a distance of 1390 km. Steve Felder, Managing Director – South Asia, Maersk, says, “We truly believe that India’s trade growth is hidden in our hinterlands. As the global integrator of container logistics, we are focused on providing efficient supply chain solutions for our customers, and efficiently linking Indian importers and exporters in hinterland locations with markets around the world. The initiative will help facilitate the cargo movement from the hinterland to directly move to and from Bangladesh and the rest of the world through the Bay of Bengal.”

To make the airline’s cargo services available to a wider global freight market and provide customers with industry-leading visibility across the shipment lifecycle, Unisys Corporation has announced that MAB Kargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo), the cargo division of Malaysia Airlines, will further enhance the digital transformation of its business using two secure, cloud-based Unisys Digistics digital logistics solutions. Under a five-year engagement, MASkargo will join the Unisys Digi-Portal e-commerce platform to promote its inventory to a wider global community of more than 25,000 buyers – forwarders, airlines, general sales agents, and handlers across 140+ countries.

Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS), in partnership with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council (AASSC), launched Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) certification programme for its employees. RPL is a flagship programme under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The scheme plans to impart skill-based training to one crore people. Ramanathan Rajamani, CEO, AISATS, says, “The airport services business forms the backbone of the aviation industry, ensuring safe and secure travel and delivery of goods.”

CONCOR and RZD Logistics (RZDL), a Russian Railways company, have agreed to jointly develop multimodal logistics services along INSTC (International North South Transport Corridor) route. The MoU signed between the two purports to explore opportunities in developing joint logistical projects both in India and in Russia, using international transport corridors, to include the International North South Transport Corridor. With the signing of MoU, both companies intend to set up joint enhancement of Indian-Russian logistical cooperation, develop prospective projects related to container transhipment between the countries, design new top-quality logistical services, and aim at further efficiency improvement of the INSTC route.

To create a national logistics e-marketplace as a one-stop shop for exporters and importers, the Centre has come up with a draft national logistics policy, set up a separate fund for start-ups in the logistics sector, and to double employment in the sector. The Ministry of Commerce & Industry has invited comments from stakeholders by February 19 on the draft policy. With regard to the e-marketplace, the draft stated, “It will involve simplification of documentation for exports/imports, and drive transparency through digitisation of processes involving customs, in regulatory, certification and, compliance services.” The idea is to provide an impetus to trade, enhance export competitiveness, improve India’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index to anywhere between 25 and 30, reduce losses due to agri-wastage to less than five per cent, and bring down logistics costs to 10 per cent of GDP from the current levels of 13-14 per cent. The logistics wing will work with the respective ministries for identification and development of terminals/logistics parks next to specific rail sidings to optimise freight movement for key commodities. “This would result in reduction of first-mile and last-mile costs, drastically bringing down the logistics cost,” the draft stated. Key projects for driving first-mile and last-mile connectivity and to optimise the modal mix will be identified by the logistics wing, per the draft. Expedited clearances will be facilitated for infrastructure projects. Doubling employment in the logistics sector by generating 10-15 million jobs, focusing on enhancing skills in the sector, and encouraging gender diversity will also be on the anvil, the draft stated.