MMC Corportation Berhad (MMC) has embarked on a major digital transformation of five ports, in partnership with global software solutions leader, Ramco System. The digital transformation will consolidate and standardise processes of MMC’s ports, which include Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd (PTP), Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd and Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd. The group-wide transformation was awarded based on the successful implementation of Ramco integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system at one of Malaysia’s most advanced container terminal – PTP. This technological transformation programme will propel Malaysia to the forefront of global best-in-class ports – which plays a crucial role in mitigating supply chain challenges, including recent disruptions due to COVID-19. Building on an earlier implementation by Ramco Systems of an ERP system for PTP where about 90 per cent of the system has achieved Go-Live in phases over the past 10 months, the enhanced rollout will digitalise processes, while providing real-time business information. MMC will also be able to consolidate various business support functions (namely Finance, Human Resource, Enterprise Asset Management, Supply Chain Management, and Logistics Management) across ports into a single integrated ERP system – all accessible on an integrated dashboard. Over 8,000 MMC employees across the ports will be plugged into the platform on their computers/mobile devices which now eliminates duplication errors and other bottlenecks, allowing efficient business processes and enhanced data visibility. The system will also include smart features such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), which will provide employees with greater insight as well as predictive alerts and chatbots which can reduce human error and save time. This will lay the foundation for MMC’s broader strategy to enhance …

DP World operated Mundra International Container Terminal (MICT) has set yet another record for being the first container terminal in Gujarat to successfully handle more than 13 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), and 10 mn Containers, since its inception. This milestone comes with the terminal achieving its all-time highest monthly throughput of 123,611 TEUs by handling 70 vessels in March 2021. MICT has registered a remarkable 60 per cent year-on-year growth on Origin Destination (OD) volumes over March 2020, surpassing overall India’s OD growth of 29.8 per cent for the same period. MICT is the first terminal at Mundra, the largest Port on western coast of India. From handling 20,000 TEUs in its first year of operations in 2003, the terminal has emerged as the gateway for the North and the North West regions of the country while pioneering the container revolution in the Kutch Region. MICT has achieved this breakthrough by handling more than 10,000 container vessels while serving international trade routes and contributing to the growth of India’s container trade and economic development. MICT continues to excel in areas of operations efficiency and deploying best-in-class infrastructure and technology, thereby, putting MICT in the top quartile of the best performing container terminals globally. The terminal’s proximity to North India market and excellent rail connectivity to the key ICDs and hinterland has made Mundra a strong first choice for Exporters and Importers. In the last quarter of 2020, MICT added two new mainline services to the Far East, providing direct and cost-effective connections. The terminal offers six mainline vessels and a vast network of feeder services which provide customers with faster and reliable connections to global markets. Capt. Sujeet Singh, …

In an expansion of its support for global healthcare and pharmaceutical customers, CEVA Logistics has announced a new sub-brand, FORPATIENTS, to support better patient outcomes through the company’s broad range of healthcare logistics services. CEVA FORPATIENTS offers healthcare and pharmaceutical companies end-to-end logistics solutions that place the patient at the center of the supply chain. As part of the suite of solutions, the company is also introducing a new temperature-sensitive logistics product that will begin service in the second quarter of 2021. The CEVA FORPATIENTS suite of healthcare logistics now encompasses temperature-sensitive solutions, pharma and biopharma, medical devices, consumer health, hospital and home care as well as diagnostic and laboratory services. Centralising its global healthcare offerings under the FORPATIENTS umbrella gives greater visibility of CEVA Logistics’ range of services to its customers and assures them of the central position of the patient. The company is also launching an advertising and social media campaign to show how logistics solutions support common medical procedures and healthcare needs. The new CEVA Logistics’ solution requires investment in temperature-controlled facilities around the world. With the support of its parent company, the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, CEVA has committed to operating a network of more than 40 such airfreight stations by the end of 2021. Some of the stations will also offer other services, such as contract logistics support. In all, the stations will allow CEVA to not only service major healthcare gateways in regional markets, but also to supply more than 1,450 healthcare trade lanes globally. Through the global network, CEVA will welcome a broad range of customer shipments in conjunction with its temperature-sensitive packaging solutions, including active and …

The Cargo Agency Conference (CAC) has decided to give freight forwarders a stronger voice in the development of CAC resolutions. This is the result of a newly adopted resolution of the CAC that will require consultation with Regional Joint Councils before any future resolutions (or amendments to resolutions) are proposed to and considered by the CAC. The CAC is composed only of airlines. The Regional Joint Councils are composed of local freight forwarder associations affiliated with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), as well as individual freight forwarders and airlines. Obtaining Regional Joint Council views in advance of adopting resolutions will strengthen the Air Cargo Program by ensuring the efficient global implementation of resolutions. “This is a major improvement for all concerned. The air cargo program works to improve the safety, security, and efficiency of cargo distribution. Considering the views of all interested parties at the beginning of the decision-making process is a win-win. The freight forwarders and their associations will have a stronger voice to influence the process. The CAC will be able to make better decisions with broader input to the decision-making process. And once decisions are made, they can be implemented universally with stronger support from all parties,” said Muhammad Albakri, Senior Vice President for Customer, Financial and Digital Services, IATA. The new streamlined consultation process will help to run the Air Cargo Program more efficiently, reduce costs, and improve and enhance cargo distribution performance throughout the industry. This is particularly crucial during these times of a global pandemic and economic crisis. IATA is the secretariat for the CAC.

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has called for action to address five critical challenges being faced by the air cargo industry, which are digitalisation, sustainability, security, liberalisation and collaboration. The organisation has completed a year-long transformation program which has created a forward-looking association well positioned to unite and represent all sectors of the supply chain, reflecting its broad membership composition. “The industry has demonstrated over the last 12 months, how effective it can be when all the supply chain partners unite around a common objective, supporting the global community through the Covid pandemic. Our industry came together initially by transporting PPE and other life essentials and then mobilized to provide the only effective transport mode to support global vaccine distribution” stated Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA. TIACA has identified key industry priorities that will need to be embraced by the entire supply chain in order to modernize and continue to provide enhanced solutions addressing shipper and other customer demands. “TIACA is committed to working with its members, the broader industry, association partners and government agencies to ensure we have a united and successful air cargo industry. We have demonstrated considerable success over the past months but as we go forward new challenges will materialize. We will need be more innovative, agile and focused as an industry to overcome them.” states, TIACA, Chair

LogiNext has announced a milestone partnership with Alibaba backed Daraz. This partnership involved rolling out the LogiNext Mile platform over which Daraz has optimised and automated millions of orders over the past four years resulting in Asia’s largest e-commerce carrier network. Through this partnership, Daraz got access to LogiNext’s Mile platform for its logistics marketplace recently launched for a potential end customer base of more than one billion to empower local logistics businesses and establish their businesses with Daraz. LogiNext’s platform automates order capturing, scheduling, delivery associate compliance, handling peak event sales and the end to end customer experience for these smaller businesses supported by Daraz in its countries. For LogiNext, a pioneer in the field of logistics automation in North America, working with Daraz was a way to make inroads in Asia via a forward-looking high-tech e-commerce environment that Daraz fosters. Together, the partnership has improved Daraz Logistics marketplace’s last mile deliveries by tracking and accessing billions of location data points to deliver a superior customer experience to millions of end customers. “LogiNext’s Mile platform has been leveraged by several premier e-commerce giants across the globe. This partnership with Daraz has helped us solve some very real on-the-ground logistical issues native to APAC and it has given a framework for upcoming and existing e-commerce giants to usher in the new face of last-mile deliveries built on the basis of a world-class customer experience,” says Mradul Khandelwal, Vice President of Business Development at LogiNext. “At Daraz, we are always looking to innovate and bring the best technologies available globally for improved customer experience which in return yields to higher business performance. This partnership has proven to be fruitful for Logistics …

With an aim to support the transportation of Covid-19 vaccines alongside essential medicines, medical devices and other critical supplies to fight the pandemic, Saudia Cargo has joined the Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative launched by UNICEF. “Saudia Cargo is ready and on full power to operate for UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative and take part in this global vaccines delivery effort through Saudia Cargo’s wide range of destinations and connection points. We fully understand our role and will work hand in hand with UNICEF and ensure the maximum global reach for the vaccines. Safe, timely and efficient transportation of these supplies is paramount and we are sure our air freighters will expertly get the job done,” said Omar Hariri, CEO, Saudia Cargo. “Delivery of these life-saving vaccines is a monumental and complex undertaking, considering the sheer volumes that need to be transported, the cold chain requirements, the number of expected deliveries and the diversity of routes,” said Etleva Kadilli, Director of UNICEF Supply Division. “We are grateful to these airlines for joining forces with the UNICEF Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative to support the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines.” The members of the initiative are 10 leading airlines which together cover routes to over 100 countries with one goal in mind, to support the COVAX facility – the global effort to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines regardless of any country’s income level. COVAX facility’s first round distribution plan provides doses to 145 countries starting the first half of 2021. The initiative commits airlines to prioritize the shipment of all life-saving supplies, add freight capacity to routes whenever necessary, and take the important measures of temperature control and security.

Qatar Airways Cargo has crossed a milestone transport of over 1.5 million COVID19 vaccine doses into the State of Qatar, with its largest batch of more than 530,000 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines arriving on April 4 from Amsterdam. The airline has played a significant role throughout the pandemic and is committed to helping people and giving back to communities, in alignment with its sustainability programme WeQare, based on the core pillars of sustainability – environment, society, economy and culture. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo, said, “We remain committed and resilient in the fight against the pandemic and together with our partners, are ensuring the safe, timely and efficient transportation of these life-saving supplies. I am glad that all our teams have worked so hard to coordinate this milestone transport into the State of Qatar, supporting the country with its COVID19 immunization campaign in the fight against the pandemic.” Since December 2020, Qatar Airways Cargo has transported COVID-19 vaccines to several countries around the world including the State of Qatar, providing large populations access to these vital vaccines, thanks to the dedication and coordinated efforts of its global teams and ground handling partners. Globally, the cargo carrier has surpassed a milestone with close to 20 million COVID-19 vaccines transported into 24 different countries, including COVID-19 vaccines for UNICEF as part of the five-year MoU to support UNICEF’s Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative. Through its QR Pharma product, Qatar Airways Cargo offers controlled cool chain and dedicated monitoring, intervention and servicing as well as proactive re-icing at its Doha hub. With significant investments and enhancments to the QR Pharma product and its state-of-the-art hub in Doha, the cargo carrier confirms its strategy and commitment …

In a bid to help fast track deployment of electric vehicles across its logistics fleet in the country, Flipkart has partnered with EDEL by Mahindra Logistics (MLL) as one of its key logistics partners. Flipkart has committed to 100 per cent electric mobility in its logistics fleet and will deploy more than 25,000 electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. Mahindra Logistics will play a significant role in working with various OEMs and help Flipkart’s sustainable transition to EVs. With a shared commitment and vision towards sustainable business practices, Mahindra Logistics has already launched EDEL, its own electric delivery brand in late 2020. EDEL has partnered with companies in consumer & e-commerce to provide sustainable last-mile delivery across six cities in India. MLL through EDEL will enable Flipkart in its journey towards building a green supply chain by not only deploying a large fleet of EVs but also creating a conducive environment for EV deployment and operations across the country. This includes building supporting infrastructure and technology such as charging stations and parking lots, training workforce, route planning and even battery swapping stations in the near future. Another key focus area will be technology and control tower operations to enable greater efficiency and cost competitiveness. Hemant Badri, SVP Supply Chain, Flipkart Group, said, “Electrification of the logistics fleet is an important part of Flipkart’s larger sustainability goal and a key focus area for the company. We are happy to have Mahindra Logistics on-board as a logistics partner, who will play a major role in helping us achieve our vision of making our logistics fleet fully electric by 2030. Through collective efforts, we aim to build and support solutions that boost EV adoption …

In a letter to Chief Minister of Maharashtra, S K Saraf, President, FIEO has appreciated the proactive decision taken to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the State. He says, “The exporting units employ millions of workers units with strict timelines to execute the orders else the same may attract heavy penalties including shifting of such orders to other competing countries. It is, therefore, necessary that the exports sector should be covered in the list of ‘essential services’ so that the entire chain to execute the exports is allowed to function during such lockdowns. Needless to mention that necessary Covid protocol would be maintained by these units.” While the President, FIEO appreciates the action to allow manufacturing units to operate during the lockdown, it is important to observe that the manufacturing units are supported by their offices which not only manage their inventories but also ensure timeline supply of raw-material, filing of tax return, filing of e-way bills for transportation of goods, managing of outward supplies, etc. If such offices are not allowed to function, it would not be possible to keep manufacturing going. Since the exports play a pivotal role in a country’s economy and more so in case of Maharashtra, which is number one state in terms of exports based ranking, the President has therefore requested the Chief Minister to allow private offices to be opened with 25% of the sanctioned strength so that necessary support, to run the manufacturing, can be provided for seamless and smooth functioning of factories. A related issue is the availability of support services like custom house agents, freight forwarders, offices of shipping lines etc. to provide movement of transportation of goods, which …