WiseTech Academy, the online training arm of WiseTech Global, has launched the WiseTech diploma of international freight forwarding. “The diploma prepares students around the world for the role of international freight forwarder and covers all aspects of the global movement of cargo, relevant regulatory requirements, and conventions and barriers that impact the flow of trade,” says an official release from WiseTech. The fully online and self-paced format allows students to start and finish at any time throughout the year, the release added. “The high-quality learning experience is delivered via multimedia content that includes interactive tools, videos, quick quizzes and a community forum, all designed to help students synthesise and apply what they have learned.” The total fee for the diploma is AUD $1,024 ($686), the release added. “WiseTech is committed to supporting education and skills development in the logistics industry through affordable and accessible courses designed for professionals who work in global supply chains,” says Tudor Maxwell who leads WiseTech Academy. “The fully online format of the WiseTech diploma allows students flexibility to fit their studies around their work and personal lives, making it ideal for people who are transitioning into the industry or preparing to advance their career in international trade. They do not need to wait for the next student intake or work around scheduled class timetables.” The diploma includes 16 courses covering various modes of transport within the industry such as sea, air, road, rail and inland waterway, and the combination of these through multimodal transport, logistics, warehousing and distribution. It also addresses safety and security, liability and insurance, global customs practices, handling of dangerous goods and the various technologies that support global trade. Participants can take …

The International Air Cargo Agents Association of India (TIACA) regional summit opens in New Delhi today at ITC Maurya. Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA says, “We have such an incredible line up of speakers who will speak about the most important issues related to the Indian air cargo industry as well as the summit will focus on India’s presence in the global economy. The highlights of the event would be numerous. We will be starting the event with Global Market Outlook which will present key global data, including market assessment India and outlook forecast, followed by a panel discussion on freighter capacity – the key for growth, highlighting, Global connectivity and main deck capacity as critical success factors in order for India to achieve the desire volume growth established by the governments plan for air cargo and economic development. There will be discussions on drones, pharma, perishables growth, ground handling, digital innovation, sustainability, airports development etc. We have representatives and great visionaries from the entire supply chain. I am looking forward to it.”

Tushar Jani, Group Chairman, Cargo Service Center says, “India is an emerging market and becoming very important to supply chain globally. TIACA being true body of various stakeholders of air cargo will be able to bring focus for India on global platform. This seminar is happening at very time and we as Indian should grab this opportunity to put our selves on global map as true global supplier.”

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers says, “TIACA Regional Summit will bring together the local air cargo community to identify and discuss specific issues that affect the industry at a regional level. It is hoped that this summit provide a platform for industry stakeholders to exchange ideas and information, address challenges, and explore opportunities for growth and development. The summit is expected to identify the key challenges faced by the local air cargo community in the region. These may include issues related to infrastructure, regulation, competition, and technological advancements. The summit is also expected to provide networking opportunities for industry stakeholders to build relationships, exchange information, and explore potential collaborations”

Yashpal Sharma, Managing Director, Skyways Group and President, Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) says, “It is a pleasure for me to be a part of the TIACA event this year. The regional conference of TIACA is happening in India for the 1st time. Over the years TIACA has remained committed to ensuring the safety and security of air cargo while maintaining the viability of the air cargo supply chain. Coincidentally, its composition of members and industry focus areas are similar to that of ACFI, so the twining is more natural. ACFI is actively engaging with TIACA on this event and will have good representation from the Governing board and members. This year’s engagement will bring out more extensive deliberations in the domains of International custom procedures, Aviation Security challenges, E-Commerce, Environment concerns, Airfreight market penetration and growth. It will be a great opportunity for the entire Indian Air Cargo fraternity to participate at this event and voice out their thoughts that will be amplified across the globe to resonate and transform desired policy, process and related capacity issues.”

Continental Carriers Pvt Ltd announced the launch of India’s First RA3 accredited Greenfield Air Freight Station. Continental Carriers Pvt Ltd has been approved as RA-3 by European Council (EU) and UK. It is the first Air Freight Station (Off Airport Location) in India to be RA3 certified, duly qualified for transportation of air cargo into the European Union and UK directly from a Third Country Airport (India). The designation of ‘Continental Carriers Pvt Ltd’ as an RA-3 for EU is given on basis of the Danish National Civil Aviation Security Program (NASP) and the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 of 5 November 2015 laying down detailed measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security & by Department of Transport, Great Minster House, London for UK. M/s Continental Carriers Pvt Ltd, in accordance with conditions laid down in ‘Handling of Cargo in Customs Area’ Regulations 2009, will commence its cargo handling operations shortly from 76-77, Kapashera, Bijwasan Road, New Delhi -110037.

Dushyant Narayandas Mulani, President, Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association (BCBA) says, India is aspiring to grow to a US$5 trillion economy; it will require a different mindset of growth, which will have to be instilled in the trade and the department. Achieving this will be dependent on the tenets of transparency and predictability. The TFA articles of which India is a signatory lays down the principles of transparency and predictability, and yes, the authorities are working on it. The National Logistic Policy shows the importance that our nation is addressing it. In the custom clearance scenario, we have urged CBIC to lay down time limits for custom clearance—12 hours for shipments coming by air and 24 hours by sea. The trade will have to follow it with timely submission of the Bill of Entries and Shipping bills with customs, timely custom duty payments and the like. This kind of benchmarking will surely help creating centralized feedback and escalation mechanisms with CBIC that will help the trade and industry to intensify any issues they are facing and right from the top, CBIC has given progressive feedback towards it, and I am sure, they will be implementing it soon. The logistics sector is currently facing a lot of issues with other stakeholders. They need to embrace this doctrine of transparency and predictability and digital working in total. Lot of these stakeholders such as custodians, the airlines, and the NVOCCs, shipping lines need to come onboard and ensure that performance benchmarks and digital working are embraced in totality. Lastly, the government agencies such as FSSAI, ADC, and animal quarantine, plant quarantine must also go digital. The parallel manual paperwork needs to be stopped immediately, …

India will spend a whopping 1.7 per cent of its GDP on transport infrastructure this year, around twice the level in America and most European countries, the logistics update that will set stage to achieve a USD 5 trillion economy, said reports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has hiked capital outlay on infrastructure to USD 122 billion for the fiscal year starting April as it looks to provide a strong impetus to job creation and boost economic activity amid a global slowdown. According to official data, the Modi government has allocated Rs 2.4 lakh crore for railways capital expenditure, nine times higher than the amount in the financial year 2013-14. The funds will mostly be spent on building tracks, new coaches, electrification, and developing facilities at stations. Allocation for roads has jumped 36 per cent to Rs 2.7 lakh crore for 2023-24. There is also the focus on reviving 50 additional airports, heliports, water aerodromes and advance landing grounds for improving regional air connectivity, said reports. The government has identified 100 critical transport infrastructure projects for last and first-mile connectivity for the ports, coal, steel, fertiliser, and food grains sectors, where it intends to ramp up investments.

WestJet Cargo has recently announced that it has received Transport Canada’s approval and official certification of its four 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF). Following the certification, WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group will expeditiously implement three freighters into service, as dedicated aircraft that will fulfill the large-scale needs of businesses, freight forwarders, shippers and individual customers across North America. The fourth of WestJet Cargo’s dedicated freighters is expected to join the accompanying fleet later this year, following the completion of its conversion. “Today is a long-awaited milestone for WestJet Cargo and the GTA Group, that will now enable us to disrupt the air cargo industry in Canada by providing our customers with more choice, competitive prices and the exemplary customer service synonymous with the WestJet brand, but unique to the air cargo industry,” said Kirsten de Bruijn, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Cargo. “We thank Transport Canada for its dedication to certifying these aircraft, which will serve to better support Canada’s national transportation supply chain through increased competition and capacity within Canada’s air cargo market.”

Freighter operator Aeronaves TSM has ordered an additional B737 conversion from Aeronautical Engineers, Inc as it continues to expand its cargo fleet. The additional B737-400SF freighter conversion (MSN 26308) will commence modification in May with work carried out by authorised AEI Conversion Center, Commercial Jet, Alabama. The additional conversion bring the total number of AEI B737-400Fs ordered by Aeronaves to eight. The carrier has plans to operate 20 of the type and is currently in the process of purchasing more freighters to reach its expansion target. AEI said that since its B737-400 conversion programme had been launched, it has re-delivered more than 132 freighter conversions. AEI’s 11 pallet position B737-400SF provides up 21 tonnes of payload and an Ancra cargo loading system capable of carrying multiple ULDs.