Seeing the improved connectivity of Madhya Pradesh with other states in all directions, Walmart, Amazon and Reliance are preparing to tap the strategic location of Madhya Pradesh to set up logistic bases by locating national distribution centres and warehouses in the state. The state is likely to see intense activity on this front in March and April. The business heads of the retailers are planning visits in the couple of months to figure out details of logistics business. According to Rajesh Rajoura, Principal Secretary to the state government for industrial investment policy and promotion, “Walmart, Amazon and Reliance have expressed interest in building logistic hubs and warehouses in the state. Setting up retail outlets is neither their priority nor the state government. But logistic hubs will get due consideration.” Amazon also plans to enter fresh fruit and vegetable markets in a big way and would want to set up centres for supply in Madhya Pradesh and the rest of the country.
Read More »SF Airlines launches second freighter between Shenzhen and New Delhi
SF Airlines has launched its second freighter service between Shenzhen and New Delhi. Airlines’ B747-400F, the new route will see two flights per week, providing a weekly round-trip capacity of 400 tonne. The company has added a new flight between Shenzhen and New Delhi in addition to its Shenzhen–Chennai service launched earlier in 2019. ““As the capital of India, New Delhi is an important location for Chinese companies to invest, develop and expand their business in the country,” said, Sam Sun, Head, SF Express India, in adding, “To leverage these advantages, SF Express has launched an all-new direct air freight route to New Delhi to fully penetrate the Indian market and provide comprehensive cross-border logistics coverage.”
Read More »Delhi International Airport will be the exclusive cargo transshipment centre for China
Delhi International Airport (DIAL) has announced that it has been chosen as the exclusive cargo transshipment centre in India by China. As per this significant development, Chinese cargo to the central Asian countries is now being routed through Delhi airport’s Transshipment Excellence Centre (TEC). Expressing happiness over the development, Videh Kumar Jaipuria, CEO, DIAL, said, “Delhi has emerged as a cargo hub for businesses in North India and neighbouring countries.” An Air Asia X (D7) freighter, carrying garment and accessories, brought the consignment from Beijing to Delhi for onward delivery to Ukraine in the last week of 2019. This was the first instance of international-to-international movement of China’s cargo via Delhi Airport. “This new movement of international transhipment cargo connecting China to Ukraine via Delhi Airport will give a significant impetus to the air cargo and regional logistics sectors,” said Jaipuria.
Read More »India’s export index to rise five points to 54 in 1st quarter of 2020: DHL Barometer
The DHL Global Trade Barometer predicts mildly positive growth for Indian trade with the country’s index rising five points to 54. According to data from the DHL Global Trade Barometer released by DHL, the positive outlook is driven primarily by an uptake in ocean imports of basic and industrial raw materials and chemicals and products, coupled with a gradual revival in air exports of consumer fashion goods. In total, ocean trade grew by 10 points, maintaining India’s positive outlook even as air trade forecasts experience relative weakness. The strong growth in ocean import and export will sustain India’s trade growth over three months in 2020. “India has the strongest trade forecast this quarter and the highest index value of all countries in the latest Global Trade Barometer survey, followed closely by the United Kingdom and Japan,” said Niki Frank, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding India. He adds, “This highlights the underlying potential of India’s economy, which will benefit from the government’s plan to invest US$ 1.39 trillion (€ 1.26 trillion) in infrastructure projects. The country’s commitment to establishing itself as a strategic maritime hub with initiatives and investments in coastal infrastructure appear to be supporting the index’s positive ocean trade outlook and will likely also contribute positively to longer-term trade growth.”
Read More »Flipkart invests $60 million funding to Shadwowfax
Flipkart has led a US$ 60 million investment in Shadowfax to strengthen its logistics network in the nation. “We have seen strong synergies with Shadowfax through our existing engagement with them, and their investments in tech-enabled innovations will help us significantly reduce delivery time and provide superior customer experiences across product categories. By leveraging kirana stores and the deep delivery capabilities of Shadowfax and other Flipkart-led innovations, we are building a strong foundation to make inroads into a dynamic hyperlocal consumer market,” said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Chief Executive Officer, Flipkart. The Series D funding round also saw the participation of Eight Roads Ventures, NGP Capital, Qualcomm Ventures, Mirae Asset Naver Fund, and the World Bank-backed International Finance Corp.
Read More »Indospace signs Jabil in Ranjangaon, Pune
Jabil Circuit India has leased approximately 60,000 sq ft of customised modern facility for light manufacturing and assembly at IndoSpace Ranjangaon, Pune. KA Lee, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Jabil Green Point, said, “This facility will help Jabil Green Point, a division of Jabil Inc, in leveraging the growth potential of the Indian market which is continuing to emerge as a key manufacturing hub for our global customers.” Rajesh Jaggi, Vice Chairman, Real Estate, Everstone Group, said, “We are very pleased to have Jabil as a tenant and look forward to working with them on future expansion endeavors in India. Our global industrial real estate experience along with local execution capabilities enable us to anticipate the needs of Jabil and structure solutions that support their business plan.” Spread across 104 acres, the IndoSpace facility in Ranjangaon is a fully integrated industrial park located in MIDC Ranjangaon. The park consists of more than 2.4 million sqft of modern warehouses and light manufacturing facilities that are designed to meet the manufacturing, logistics and supply chain needs of global companies.
Read More »Future Supply Chain & Nippon Express collaborate to multiply profits
Nippon Express South Asia & Oceania (Nippon Express) and Future Supply Chain Solutions (FSC) have signed a Business Collaboration Agreement (BCA) to jointly explore growth opportunities for new and existing customers based on their strategic partnership and expand revenues for both the companies. The two companies will jointly start the business collaboration from January 2020. The partnership will jointly leverage Nippon Express’ competency in diverse sectors for the Indian market. FSC will demonstrate its 3PL and express logistics operations, attracting potential new business opportunities from Nippon Express’ existing Japanese and MNC clients. Both the companies have agreed to formalise a steering committee and Nippon Express will depute its representatives to operate alongside FSC’s management.
Read More »Bollore Logistics India & CFM sign contract for aircraft engine transportation
Bollore Logistics India has signed a contract with CFM Aircraft Engine Support South Asia for aircraft engine transportation. The contract also includes customs clearance documentation at the Dubai Airshow. The contract was signed between Karthigeyan Ramaswamy, Managing Director, CFM Aircraft Engine Support South Asia and Philippe Lortal, CEO – Middle East & South Asia, Bolloré Logistics. “The contract signed is for importation into India including custom clearance at Delhi airport. The contract also includes services related to re-export from India which includes outbound export custom process at Khurja to re-export back to the origin. Bolloré Logistics is also nominated for the International Freight Forwarding to various origins from Delhi” said Ramaswamy.
Read More »APL launches Asia Subcontinent Express 8 service
The weekly AS8 is set to directly link the South-East Asian economies of Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia with the India Subcontinent markets of India and Pakistan. The AS8 will be characterised by its direct port connectivity from Laem Chabang to Pipavav, Port Qasim and Karachi. With this, shippers with India and Pakistan bound shipments from Thailand will find the AS8 service a faster alternative to relaying cargoes through transhipments. AS8 will start sailing from Laem Chabang on December 16, 2019 with the following port rotation: Laem Chabang-Singapore – Port Klang (North Port) – Port Klang (West Port) – Pipavav – Port Qasim – Karachi.
Read More »Spicejet & Gulf Air collaborate to coordinate cargo services
SpiceJet and Gulf Air have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to examine areas of potential synergy, including looking at co-ordinating cargo services, interline or codeshare agreements, shared engineering services and pilot training. The MoU was signed by Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, and Krešimir Kučko, Chief Executive, Gulf Air. Singh comments, “This agreement is going to play a very important role for airline’s next phase of growth as we continue to explore the innumerable opportunities around us.” SpiceJet’s cargo division, SpiceXpress, took delivery of its first 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) earlier this autumn. The standard-body freighter, the first 737-800BCF to be operated in south Asia, was leased from NGF Alpha Limited, a division of Spectre Cargo Solutions.
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