Assam has shipped air cargo containing fruits, directly to Singapore for the first time in history. Singapore High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong said in a tweet that this is the first time that “a direct agro-export source” has been established from the Northeast of India to Singapore. The journey only takes 4.5 hours, which is a massive boon to help “double Northeast’s agricultural exports”, said Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Previously, the India and Singapore also piloted the first live paperless transaction using the Trade Trust platform, another landmark moment to digitally connect the two nations.

Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, BIAL says, “India’s trade prospects are hindered by inadequate infrastructure such as airports, roadways and logistics facilities. These factors affect the efficiency of cargo movement and trade operations. To become a trade hub, India needs to invest in infrastructure development and modernization, improve connectivity and reduce logistical bottlenecks. Regulatory procedures, such as customs clearance, licensing and documentation requirements are complex and time-consuming, which increases the transaction costs for businesses. To boost air cargo and facilitate smoother trade operations, customs authorities are adopting digital solutions, streamlining and simplifying procedures and implementing single-window clearance systems. These efforts aim to enhance the ease of doing business. However, India still needs significant improvements in infrastructure, especially in transportation and logistics, to become a world cargo and trade hub.”

CJ Darcl Logistics was felicitated with ‘Best Multimodal Transport & Logistics company’ award at recently concluded India Cargo Awards 2023 in New Delhi. Piyush Srivastava, IES, Senior Economic Advisor graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Known as the “Oscars of the Cargo Industry,” the India Cargo Awards 2023 hosted by Cargo Talk (DDP Group Publication) serves as an all-India platform created with a vision to recognise excellence in the Cargo-Freight-Logistics Industry across various domains, including Rail, Road, Air, Sea, Allied Services, Warehousing, Technology, 3rd Party Logistics, and more. Our world-class awards ceremonies are known for their formal Black-Tie affair, filled with glitz and glamour, attended by the most influential personalities in the Cargo Industry.

DP World signed the Tconcession agreement on Friday with Deendayal Port Authority to develop, operate and maintain a new 2.19 million EU per annum Tuna Tekra mega-container terminal at Kandla in Gujarat. The concession agreement was signed between S. K. Mehta, Chairman of Deendayal Port Authority and Rizwan Soomar, MD & CEO, India Subcontinent, Middle East and North Africa, DP World, in the presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, Honourable Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World. The concession to develop the mega-container terminal at Tuna-Tekra was awarded to Hindustan Infralog Private Limited (a joint venture between DP World and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, India’s collaborative investment platform anchored by the Government of India) in January 2023 by the Deendayal Port Authority, under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis for a period of 30 years with an extension option of further 20 years. DP World currently operates five container terminals in India – two in Mumbai, one each in Mundra, Cochin and Chennai – with a combined capacity of approximately 6 million TEUs. With the addition of Tuna Tekra, DP World will have a combined capacity of 8.19 million TEUs.

The 2024 edition of The International Air Cargo Association’s (TIACA) flagship event, Air Cargo Forum will be managed with new partner McVeigh Global Meetings and Events(MGME). MGME will organise the event that will be held again in Miami, November 11-14, 2024, says an official release from TIACA. Glyn Hughes, TIACA Director General says, “We are excited to work towards delivering another successful event next year that will include a streamlined event that achieves the association’s event principles but will also offer more opportunities for attendees to network such as a golf tournament, receptions and well planned after event parties. We are confident that MGME will be able to deliver to the association as well as the exhibitors and attendees. We also feel it is vital to make it easy for attendees to enjoy themselves in one of the world’s top tourist destinations, so we will be offering some exciting pre/post event excursions, watch this space. This way we can provide much more than event, we can provide an experience.” The key principles include providing value for money, being network focused, world class speakers, industry thought leader engagement, charitable, sustainable as well as providing a highly valued experience for attendees. Future events will include facility tours, unique networking celebrations and excursions for attendees. The TIACA board selected MGME to organise, sell and manage the Air Cargo Forum 2024 and the Air Cargo Forum 2026, both of which will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Centre, the release added. “Following the success of ACF 2022, we would like to enhance the event even more, aligned with our key event principles as a membership focused organisation,” says Steven Polmans, Chair, TIACA. “We …

Mark your calendar for India’s highly anticipated and power-packed show on cold chain storage and transportation. Being organized by WIZ, Cold Chain Unbroken (CCUB) 2023 will be held on 14-15 September at Taj Bengaluru. The key points of discussion will include cold chain storage, handling and transportation, adequate infrastructure and skilled manpower for ground handling and transportation of products such as pharma and perishables, tech integration, government policies to facilitate EoDB and a lot more. Several industry stalwarts and stakeholders, including airports, airlines, freight forwarders, shipping lines, trucking companies, custodians are expected to take part in the show. The two-day event will provide a platform to meet and exchange ideas and collaborate.

Allcargo Supply Chain was honoured with ‘Best Supply Chain Company of the Year’ award at recently concluded India Cargo Awards 2023 in New Delhi. Piyush Srivastava, IES, Senior Economic Advisor graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Known as the “Oscars of the Cargo Industry,” the India Cargo Awards 2023 hosted by Cargo Talk (DDP Group Publication) serves as an all-India platform created with a vision to recognise excellence in the Cargo-Freight-Logistics Industry across various domains, including Rail, Road, Air, Sea, Allied Services, Warehousing, Technology, 3rd Party Logistics, and more. Our world-class awards ceremonies are known for their formal Black-Tie affair, filled with glitz and glamour, attended by the most influential personalities in the Cargo Industry.

The Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) is finishing up with their Multimodal Logistics Park within the Kadakola industrial area at Mysuru. The facility consists of an independent goods train terminal a designated rail line for effective transport of goods within the park. Currently the building finishing works and signalling works are in progress. The logistics park is expected to assist in elimination of big obstacles to export from the area, such as the absence of nearby airport/seaport. Operations at the park are expected to commence from December, 2023.

The Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) in Kolkata is set to initiate regular cargo transportation to the northeastern states via Bangladesh soon, according to reports. This development follows a bilateral agreement between the two neighbouring nations, which has enabled the utilisation of multi-modal transit and transshipment of commodities. This includes permanent access to Bangladesh’s Chittagong and Mongla ports by India, facilitating the smooth transit and transshipment of goods. This move aims to substantially decrease the time and costs associated with transporting commodities to the northeastern states of India, adds reports. Additionally, the Bangladesh government has granted consent to four transportation routes for the movement of goods within Tripura and other northeastern Indian states. Cargo originating from India and arriving at Chittagong and Mongla ports can be directed to Agartala, through Akhaura in Bangladesh. Additionally, the approved routes includes transportation to Dawki in Meghalaya via Tamabil in Sylhet, Sutarkandi in Assam via Sheola, and Srimantapur in Tripura via Bibir Bazar in Comilla, as well as the reverse directions.

Conversion firm Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) is celebrating its 600th aircraft conversion of Boeing 737-800 owned by GA Telesis (MSN 28235). The 600th freighter conversion was modified by Commercial Jet Inc, which is AEI’s longest-serving modification partner, at its Miami facility. AEI has been designing, developing, and modifying narrowbody freighter aircraft since 1958, providing freighter products ranging from the DC6 and CV440 to the 727-200SF, 737-400SF, and 737-800SF. “We are thrilled to reach this milestone and couldn’t have made it without the dedication of our employees, the responsiveness of our vendor partners, and the trust earned from our customers,” said Roy Sandri, AEI’s president in a release. “By consistently delivering robust and reliable freighter conversion products, AEI has grown to become the most widely recognized and respected independent conversion company in the industry.”