Category Archives: International

UPS has inaugurated a larger integrated logistics facility in Ahmedabad to support businesses and SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in Gujarat, looking to expand trade with the global marketplace. Located at Ahmedabad, the facility is easily accessible for walk-in retail customers. The company will provide integrated services for small packages, supply chain solutions and contract logistics for faster and more efficient access to international markets. UPS also offers SMEs in Ahmedabad same day clearance to the United States. The new facility is part of UPS’s investment strategy into its global integrated network, which moves three per cent of the world gross domestic product (GDP) across 220 countries and territories daily. Jean-Francois Condamine, President – Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (ISMEA), UPS, commented, “The economic growth of around 7.1 per cent puts India at the top of the fastest growing G20 economies. Gujarat contributes to a quarter of India’s goods exports and has successfully developed a world class infrastructure network. With the Indian economy on a growth trajectory, SMEs in key states such as Gujarat, are breaking boundaries to reach their growth potential. This investment shows UPS’s commitment as a growth partner for India and its businesses to help drive the economy.”

Cathay Pacific Cargo has partnered with va-Q-tec for temperature-controlled transportation. va-Q-tec’s advanced passive thermal containers will be a strong addition to Cathay Pacific Cargo’s Pharma LIFT portfolio by providing its global customers with an excellent solution for moving life-saving pharmaceuticals by air freight. Frosti Lau, General Manager – Cargo Service Delivery, Cathay Pacific, said, “These advanced passive thermal containers can offer steady temperature-controlled conditions for several days without requiring external energy sources. Coupled with Cathay Pacific Cargo’s extensive network, we are confident the containers will benefit our customers around the world.”

The third edition of the India Cargo Awards – North & East celebrated the accomplishments of the cargo industry of North & East India at The Lalit, New Delhi on December 20, 2017. Salman Khurshid, former Cabinet Minister for External Affairs, former Cabinet Minister for Law and Justice and Minority Affairs, Government of India, was the Chief Guest for the distinguished evening. The ceremony saw the august presence of the leaders and runners of the cargo industry. The 39 winners were chosen after a fair and unbiased selection process which includes an online voting platform.

Stephane Descarpentries, Director – Strategic Projects and Director Operations Asia, FM Logistic, reveals, “We are setting-up multi-customer facilities (MCF) close to the biggest cities in India. First MCF (250 000 sqft) will start in Mumbai (Bhiwandi) in December 2017, second one is planned in Delhi for 2018. Part of these warehouses will be leased but we are also planning to build our own facilities with the help of our real estate subsidiary, Batilogistic.” “These MCFs will bring to our customers efficiency (by usage of the height of the buildings), flexibility (by sharing space and resources among different companies) and quality, security and compliance,” he added.

FedEx Express has launched FedEx Delivery Manager; a new feature to bring convenient delivery options to customers in the country. The new interactive e-commerce delivery solution allows retailers to provide extra flexibility to their customers in India by allowing them to customise the timing and location of their deliveries at no extra cost. Recipients expecting deliveries to their residence will receive a notification by email from FedEx when their package is shipped. The recipient can choose to change the delivery instructions in a few simple steps via a secured website. This is available for both international and domestic shipments.

At the 11th World Cargo Symposium opened in Abu Dhabi, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the air cargo industry to accelerate modernisation and focus on delivering high quality service. “Listening to the customer has never been more important. The positive forces currently supporting growth are good news. But our customers are telling us that they expect more. Complicated and convoluted paper-based processes that are basically unchanged from the 16th century is still being used in air cargo today. Our customers pay a premium to ship by air and they rightly expect modern processes and high quality services,” said Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO, IATA.

The 11th World Cargo Symposium 2017 opened at a remarkable note in Abu Dhabi. The symposium is meeting at a time of thoughtful optimism which is far too rare in the air cargo industry. After several years of virtually no growth, the industry is starting to see demand pick up. Freight volumes began to grow in the second half of 2016. And the momentum is carrying over into this year with January demand rising nearly seven per cent over the previous year. Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and CEO has shared a clear vision of how that historical role continues to manifest itself. “It is great to see such forward thinking at the highest levels of government on the strategic benefits of aviation to the national economy,” he adds.

Emirates SkyCargo has also been awarded the certification of compliance under the EU Good Distribution Practice guidelines (GDP) for medicinal products for human use by Bureau Veritas following an audit conducted by the certification agency’s team from Germany. The certification validates the carrier’s adherence to the strict guidelines on the transport and handling of pharmaceutical products and covers all Emirates SkyCargo handling activities for pharmaceutical products at its hub in Dubai. Emirates SkyCargo is the first cargo airline in the world that has obtained GDP certification for its hub operations covering two airports and the 24/7 bonded trucking service that connects cargo between them. The carrier also operates the largest GDP certified area in the world offering a total area of 8,600 square metres of combined handling space dedicated for pharmaceutical products at Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central.

Emirates SkyPharma, Emirates SkyCargo’s new purpose-built facility dedicated exclusively to the timely and secure transport of temperature sensitive pharmaceutical shipments at Dubai International Airport (DXB) was officially inaugurated on September 18, 2016 by his Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group. The new purpose built Emirates SkyPharma facility, part of the new 11,000 square metre extension of Emirates SkyCentral terminal at Dubai International Airport, offers 4,000 square metres of space dedicated to pharmaceutical cargo. It also features temperature controlled zones (2-8 degree Celsius and 15-25 degree Celsius), 88 temperature controlled individual positions in the automated ULD (aircraft pallet) handling system and 5 temperature controlled acceptance and delivery truck docks. The new Emirates SkyPharma facility at Dubai International airport works in conjunction with Emirates SkyCentral DWC, the carrier’s freighter hub in Dubai World Central which offers 4,600 square metres of dedicated area for pharmaceutical cargo.