DHL Supply Chain launches its latest offering – the India Fulfilment Network (IFN), in Bangalore. This first-of-its-kind service will be rolled out to benefit the growing number of small and medium retail businesses that have seen a shift in their business models to online marketplaces, largely spurred by movement restrictions caused by the ongoing pandemic. DHL will invest more than INR 25 crores to further scale this network across major metros and state capitals in the country over the next 12 months. Even before the pandemic, the opportunity in the e-commerce market in India has been evident and is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 27%i by 2024, with a large number of sellers in various categories showing a keen interest in shifting to an omni-channel model. The ecommerce boom during the Covid-19 pandemic has further boosted online retail transactions across India, especially with government-imposed social distancing protocols and a resultant decline in customers at brick and mortal shops. Relatedly, the expansion of e-commerce and 3PL sectors is also fueling demand for warehousing, which is expected to increase at 160%.

DTDC and its strategic partner, Geopost SA (DPD Group), owned by France’s Le Groupe La Poste., are proud to associate with Narayana Hrudayalaya Charitable Trust and Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd. for the successful set-up and inauguration of an oxygen generator plant in Jaipur. The one-of-its-kind oxygen generator plant was inaugurated by DTDC Chairman and MD, Subhasish Chakraborty, in the presence of top officials from DTDC and Narayana Health. The valuable joint -initiative, installed in the Narayana multi-speciality hospital in Jaipur, is geared to help the country fight the ongoing Covid pandemic. On the ocassion, Subhasish Chakraborty said, “The cutting-edge oxygen generator plant, imported from the US, is a result of joint efforts of DTDC, our strategic partner, Geopost SA (DPD Group) and the able team at Narayana Health. As a part of our CSR program for Covid care support, we have made a significant contribution of Rs 1.56 crore to Narayana Hrudayalaya Charitable Trust. DTDC and Geopost SA (DPD Group) also ensured the seamless logistical movement of the oxygen generator plant”.

Emirates SkyCargo is taking the digital way for customer satisfaction experience. Working with WiseTech Global, a leading provider of software solutions to the logistics industry, Emirates SkyCargo will be providing direct access to its flights and inventory for cargo customers through the CargoWise platform. Customers will now be able to make cargo bookings direct on the platform for a majority of their cargo requirements after completing a short registration process. “At Emirates SkyCargo, we are always looking at ways to make every stage of the transportation process more efficient – from the time of booking the shipment to the delivery of the cargo to the consignee. We are delighted to work with WiseTech to connect the CargoWise platform to our own Emirates SkyChain system, allowing customers enhanced direct access to search for flights and make bookings directly with Emirates SkyCargo without requiring any other touchpoints. This will save time and effort for our customers and for our global teams and at the same time help avoid any unnecessary confusion and inefficiencies in the booking process,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president, Cargo.

UAE-based logistics major DP World is investing around INR 2,000 crore in a slew of projects in Tamil Nadu, including setting up of a new container terminal, cold storage and seafood processing zone among other units. Some of the other projects lined up include a free trade zone with an integrated rail siding, a minor port in the Eastern Coast of Tamil Nadu and inland container depots in Erode, Karur and Tirupur. “These projects may create employment for 4,500 people (1,500 direct and 3,000 indirect),” a government official said. DP World has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government seeking facilitation support required for the projects.

The world’s third-largest container carrier said it’s capping spot rates for ocean freight for the next five months, yielding to pressure from some customers and regulators concerned that global trade disruptions have pushed the cost of shipping too high. “Although these market-driven rate increases are expected to continue in the coming months, the group has decided to put any further increases in spot freight rates on hold for all services operated under its brands,” CMA CGM SA said in a statement on its website. The decision, which will resonate throughout the industry, took effect Thursday and runs through Feb. 1. Based in Marseille, France, the company said it’s “prioritizing its long-term relationship with customers in the face of an unprecedented situation in the shipping industry.”

The government has sought a list of all components of the Dedicated Rail Freight Corridor project that has been delayed due to various orders given by judiciary as well as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) while expressing concerns over the cost escalations and continuous delays of the project. This comes with the fast-approaching commissioning target for the project, which is scheduled for June 2022. In a recently held review meeting, which was chaired by the Prime Minister himself, governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat were asked to complete land acquisition process, relief and rehabilitation work as well as construction of road over bridges as soon as possible. As per reports, PM Modi asked Maharashtra government to acquire and hand over around 0.27 hectares of private land by October 15, 2021 and even asked it prioritise the project and complete all the given work on time.

Blue Dart, has successfully commenced Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) drone delivery trials under the Blue Dart Med-Express Consortium in Vikarabad, Hyderabad on September 9th, 2021. Blue Dart is proud to be given the first opportunity amongst various consortiums to initiate the Drone trials. Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart attended the launch as the organization furthered its technological prowess. Launched under Telangana Government’s ‘Medicine from the Sky’ project, these trials have delivered promising results, bringing the country one step closer in ensuring the last-mile delivery of vaccines. Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) trials were initiated on September 11th, 2021 and will continue on till the end of the week. This event was graced by Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Civil Aviation, KT Rama Rao, Minister for ITE&C, I&C and MAUD, Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rama Devi Lanka, Director of Emerging Technologies, and Nikhila, Collector & District Magistrate, Vikarabad District. The Blue Dart Med-Express Consortium was formed earlier this year with the mission of revolutionizing the delivery of vaccines and emergency medical supplies to the remotest parts of India with Drones. Blue Dart Med-Express Consortium is a part of the ‘Medicine from the Sky’ project in collaboration with the Government of Telangana, World Economic Forum, Niti Aayog and Healthnet Global.

Global Transportation and Industrial Park of Oklahoma (GTIP) is being created on more than 200 acres of shovel-ready and build-to-suit land at the former U.S. Army Air Force base in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Representatives of GTIP have begun discussions with airlines, freight forwarders, integrators, and beneficial cargo owners about developing air cargo solutions at the multimodal park. GTIP will become an international, state-of-the-art global cargo hub. It includes an already fully functional airport with 9,002-foot and 5,404-foot runways, 24/7 airspace access and 1.2 million square feet of aircraft parking space. The existing infrastructure can handle the vast majority of preighters and freighters, up to the B777-200, and future plans will increase the capacity to include the B-747 freighter family. “GTIP represents an extraordinary opportunity for the air cargo community to create capacity by utilizing an existing airport that can accept air cargo today,” said Michelle Bowling, senior director of sales for Watco, a partner in developing and operating GTIP.

The huge shortage of the empty container faced by the Indian exporters can be well addressed if the government speed up the movement of empty containers from ports to the hinterland for loading export goods and stop empty boxes from being taken out of the country. This could definitely help improve the availability of containers, if not bring the freight rates down. Exporters have been looking for support from the government with the ever-increasing freight rates and shortage of containers in the nation, which is constantly increasing their operational costs. While the government has been looking at ways to help the exporters, a source from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said that there is hardly anything they can do regarding freight rates. The government is veering around to the view that all empty containers from ports to hinterland locations in the North should move by rail only, which typically takes about three days from the western region.

In its transition to a new operating model, Aramex has announced its plans of splitting its business in two: Aramex Express will cater to e-commerce and B2C; while Aramex Logistics will become the freight forwarding B2B arm. The company believes that this reshuffle will “enhance customer service levels and operating efficiencies, while capturing greater global market share”. Aramex Express, which includes international and domestic delivery, will serve the B2C customer base, including Shop & Ship, e-commerce, FMCG, SMEs and other customers needing “innovative last-mile solutions”. The company has been a strong player in e-commerce deliveries across the Middle East, with a marked presence in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Aramex Logistics, which includes air freight, sea freight, land freight and warehousing and distribution, will serve the B2B customer base across multiple industries including oil & gas, healthcare & pharmaceutical, aerospace and retail & fashion.