Alstom has successfully manufactured and delivered the 100th electric locomotive to Indian Railways. As part of the contract worth €3.5 billion won in 2015, the company will be supplying 800 fully electric high-powered double-section locomotives of 12,000 HP (9 MW) for freight service, capable of hauling 6,000 tonnes at a top speed of 120 km/hr. This is the largest Foreign Direct Investment project in the Indian Railway sector. In the financial year 2020-2021, Indian Railways recorded a freight loading of 1,232 million tonnes, which was 2 per cent higher than the previous fiscal. Introduction of faster trains has helped increase the average speed of transportation by 83 per cent leading to a shorter turnaround time and has supported the movement of essential goods during COVID-19 times . With the first Prima T8TM WAG-12B inducted for commercial service in May 2020, these locomotives are transforming the heavy freight transportation landscape of India. Deployed for operations on major freight routes, including Dedicated Freight Corridors, the Prima T8TM WAG-12Be-Locos have already clocked over close to 5 million kilometres hauling a wide range of commodities. These locomotives also made the inaugural run on the first fully operational sections of the Dedicated Freight Corridors, in December 2020. Some of the key commodities moved by these e-Locos include – coal, cement, food grains, fertilisers, petrochemical products, minerals, and posts/ parcels, across 17 States & 2 Union Territories.

To contribute to the war against COVID-19, Pickrr has announced a 100 per cent subsidy on delivery charges for all non-profit organisations supplying COVID-19 essentials around the country. The company extend its support to all the NGOs and NPOS and urges them to join forces with India in taking on the pandemic with full strength. Commenting on the notable initiative, Rhitiman Majumder, Co-Founder at Pickrr, said, “The second wave of the virus has created massive chaos in our country, forcing many state governments to impose strict restrictions to stop the health crisis from becoming worse. During these unprecedented times, COVID-19 essentials should reach every destination on priority. We at Pickrr ensure to deliver all the essential health and grocery products without compromising the safety of your associates. NGOs supplying COVID-19 essentials can use our services without paying a single delivery charge and get the goods delivered at the right place and time”. The company works with the leading courier partners in the country, including Blue Dart, FedEx and more, to offer the best service to its customers.

The CMA CGM Air Cargo’s chartered Airbus A330-200 freighter, carrying 28 tonnes of medical equipment including eight oxygen plants worth more than Rs17 crore, landed in Delhi from Paris, France. The oxygen plants will be delivered to 8 Indian hospitals, 6 in Delhi, one in Haryana and one in Telangana, based on needs as identified by the Indian authorities. In addition to the oxygen plants, this airfreight will also include 28 ventilators and 200 electric syringe pushers which will be distributed to several hospitals based on needs to enhance their ICU capacities. This special cargo flight has been chartered free of charge by the French shipping and logistics group CMA CGM through its air cargo division. Alongside CMA CGM, many other French companies present in India have stepped up to pool their contributions and resources with the French government’s to carry out this exceptional solidarity mission. This support also falls within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). On this occasion, the Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Emmanuel Lenain, said, “We stand by India in these difficult times, just as India has always stood by France. In Spring 2020, when French hospitals were facing acute shortages, India provided lifesaving help through the export of critical medical drugs. The French people have not forgotten. India has, in fact, been at the forefront of international cooperation against the pandemic, including through sharing its massive vaccine production capacity with countries most in need. As President Emmanuel Macron said, “Solidarity is at the heart of the strategic partnership between France and India. A partnership between sovereign countries that have built an exceptional mutual trust and work together to enhance each other’s …

As the ongoing lockdown restricts essential supplies for millions of Indians, Rapido has partnered with Zomato, Swiggy BigBasket. Delhivery, Grab, Xpressbees, and Udaan for last-mile delivery support Proful Lall, VP, Corporate Affairs, Rapido “As the nation fights its worst-ever pandemic, lockdowns and restrictions have been put in place to ensure the safety of citizens across the nation. As one of the largest mobility services in the country, Rapido has partnered with Zomato, Swiggy, BigBasket, Delhivery, Practo, Grab, Xpressbees, and Udaan, to support them with last-mile connectivity and deliveries of essentials to the people staying or nursing at home. These partnerships are live across Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Guntur. Rapido is supporting these partners in the delivery of medicines, essential groceries, and food from restaurants, helping small-scale industries stock up their inventory, and finding more ways of contributing to the fight against COVID-19. We have undertaken all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our Captains and are proud of our on-ground COVID-19 Warriors working every day to ensure every citizen is staying home.”

Reacting to the trade data of April, 2021, Sharad Kumar Saraf, President, FIEO, said that the impressive growth reiterates our assessment that order booking position of our exporters is extremely good and with gradual improvement of situation in the country, will push exports growth further. He said that over 15% per cent growth on the base of April 2019 is a better indicator and reflects a positive double digit trend. Saraf particularly emphasised that the growth in labour-intensive sectors like Gems & Jewellery, Handicrafts and Carpets augur well for the job scenario, which is most relevant in the current context. He added that such a growth has been mainly on account of 29 out of 30 major product groups of exports showing either a very impressive high positive growth starting with four digit and almost all ending with a very high double digit growth continuously defying all the odds for the second time during the year 2021 as still the global economy is passing through these challenging times. FIEO President added that the exports of Gems and Jewellery, Jute mfg. including floor covering, Carpets, Handicrafts excl. Hand-made carpet, Leather and leather manufactures, RMG of All Textiles, Cotton yarn/fabrics/made-ups, handloom products etc., Man-made yarn/fabrics/made-ups etc., Ceramic products and glassware, Other cereals, Electronic Goods, Oil meals, Cashew, Mica, coal and other ores, minerals including process, Engineering goods, Tobacco, Iron ore, Petroleum products, Cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed item, Oil Seeds, Meat, dairy and poultry products, Tea, Marine products, Spices, Coffee, Organic and Inorganic Chemicals, Rice, Plastic and linoleum, Fruits and vegetables and Drugs and pharmaceuticals were the sectors, which contributed towards showing such a spectacular performance by the exports sector during the …

To assist in the fight against COVID-19 in India, FedEx Express is working with organisations around the world to deliver critical medical supplies and equipment. An initial shipment of 1,000 critically needed oxygen concentrators on-board a FedEx aircraft was delivered to New Delhi on April 30 as part of a collective initiative by multinational companies. FedEx is also working with Direct Relief to move more than 1,800 pounds of medicine and personal protective equipment to India. “As the impact of COVID-19 continues to grow in India, we are extremely grateful that our mission of connecting the world can bring relief to those most in need,” said Kawal Preet, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa Region, FedEx Express. “This is a time to come together so we have mobilized our global network and our team members to help the communities in India where we live and work.” FedEx continues to collaborate with the Government of India, healthcare customers, and the producers of critical medial aid items to provide support where it is needed most. FedEx has a long history of supporting relief efforts across the globe during times of crisis. The company has committed $4 million in cash and in-kind transportation support to help non-profits reach underserved communities with the COVID-19 vaccines around the world. Since the beginning of 2020, the company has transported more than 10,000 humanitarian aid shipments globally toward COVID-19 relief efforts.

Lufthansa Cargo has transported around 10 tonnes of medical equipment from Frankfurt to Delhi on three scheduled flights. On April 29 alone, 280 oxygen concentrators flew to Delhi. The equipment is part of a larger consignment that time:matters, the specialist for high-volume special logistics, is carrying out on behalf of a customer. “We see it as our responsibility to play our part in international aid. The dramatic situation in India shows how important it is to transport relief supplies quickly and easily to where they are urgently needed. That is why we at Lufthansa Cargo, together with the Lufthansa Group, are doing everything we can to maintain supply chains worldwide. This requires enormous flexibility on the part of our colleagues involved, good cooperation with our customers and decisive action on the part of international politicians, for example in special regulations for crews entering a country,” said Dorothea von Boxberg, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo. “Our team of experienced logistics specialists enables global transport solutions despite challenging conditions such as tight capacities, thinned-out flight schedules and closed borders. For medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators or other time-critical and sensitive shipments, individual, transparent and 100 per cent reliable transports are essential. Already in the first wave of the pandemic, time:matters, in cooperation with Lufthansa Cargo and the airlines of the Lufthansa Group, brought medical protective equipment across continents to its destination in the shortest possible time with a maximum of flexibility and boundless commitment,” explains Alexander Kohnen, Managing Director of time:matters.

Swift Cargo has announced joining the TradeLens platform, a blockchain enabled digital supply chain solution jointly developed by Maersk and IBM, to use its electronic bill of lading product. The TradeLens eBL, will digitize bills of lading, along with other critical transportation documents, on the Blockchain to vastly increase speed of original bill of lading issuance, transfer and surrender, a process that was traditionally manual and time-consuming which can now occur accurately and securely in minutes. Eliminating the risks and costs caused by lost or delayed documents have been a significant concern for the shipping, logistics and trade finance industries. With direct connectivity of all stakeholders within the TradeLens blockchain technology powered platform, total end-to-end visibility for Swift Cargo’s transportation documentation will now be available for their import and export cargo, sourced from a single platform. The TradeLens solution will provide transparency through the shipping cycle while addressing sensitivities too. “Innovation in the industry provides improved speed, transparency and efficiency for our international transportation documentation. This allows us to ultimately provide better service to our customers and at the same time capture improved efficiencies in our operations,” said Harish Pandeya, Managing Director Swift Cargo. He added, “Going beyond our objective of digitalization and providing timely and superior service levels to our clients, TradeLens will also help us reduce operational overheads and errors by enabling automation of significant parts of the documentation process.” Bimal Kanal, Head – South Asia, TradeLens mentioned, ” We are excited to see Swift Cargo join us on our mission to digitize the bill of lading process across all types of BLs. By eliminating the risk of lost documents, forgeries, delays and charges by using a blockchain …

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has released the first comprehensive study undertaken on the sustainable transformation of the air cargo industry. As part of TIACA’s Sustainability program, launched in November 2019, the organization performed a widespread industry survey involving supply chain partners from across the globe and from each industry sector and business size. The results have been analyzed and published to form a ‘ground zero’ assessment by which future progress can be measured. The report’s findings will also feed TIACA’s overall sustainability strategy and support enhanced work programs addressing each of the organizations three key areas: People, Planet, Prosperity, supported by innovation and partnership. “Sustainability is one of the key priority areas for TIACA as the air cargo industry must reflect the global society it serves. We must collectively seek to focus on People, Planet and Prosperity. To flourish in the years to come, we must create equal opportunities for all, embrace technology and innovation and ensure we implement environmentally responsible solutions designed to protect the planet today and for generations to come”, stated Glyn Hughes, TIACA Director General. The survey found that 63% of respondents believe that sustainability was more important to the industry in 2020 than it was in 2019, despite the Covid-19 outbreak. Of the various air cargo players, shippers ranked highest, with 87% of them saying that sustainability had increased in importance over the last 12 months. Respondents were also asked how the outbreak had affected their sustainability programme, with 44% saying it had no impact, 37% saying it had a positive impact and 19% saying its effect was a negative one.

Etihad Cargo has strengthened its ability to transport COVID-19 vaccines around the world after receiving UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) approval to expand dry ice carrying capabilities across its Boeing Dreamliner and Boeing 777 fleet. The GCAA approval ensures the UAE national carrier’s main Boeing fleet can now carry up to five times more dry ice per flight, enabling it to provide enhanced frozen and deep-frozen conditions required for various vaccine types, including the Pfizer, Moderna and Sputnik vaccines which currently need to be stored between -70°C to -18°C. “Securing GCAA approval for our dry ice carrying capabilities is an important step forward for Etihad Cargo. Not only does it heighten the carrier’s credibility in assuring product integrity, it further elevates the enabling role the airline is playing in the UAE and Abu Dhabi’s efforts to provide a greater number of vaccines across Etihad’s network,” said Andre Blech, Director Global Cargo Operations, Etihad Aviation Group. Air transportation of dry ice – the solid form of carbon dioxide – is strictly controlled under the applicable dangerous goods regulations as it becomes CO2 gas upon evaporation. “Etihad Cargo will ensure optimum safety of its expanded carrying capabilities by adhering to all regulatory requirements, including package compliant protocols and mandatory training,” added Blech. An acknowledged leader in the air transportation of pharmaceuticals, Etihad Cargo is the first Middle Eastern carrier to gain IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification for pharmaceutical logistics and is a key component of Abu Dhabi’s complete HOPE Consortium supply chain solution to facilitate vaccine availability to Abu Dhabi and the world. As part of the HOPE Consortium, which is spearheaded and regulated by the Department …