Cargo iQ has partnered with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and the Airport Services Association (ASA) to set goals for enhanced standard practices across the air cargo supply chain. The objective of the alliance is to strengthen collaboration between forwarder, ground handler, and airline communities, working on a global basis to achieve common standards and enhanced quality. The decision was made at Cargo iQ’s most recent board meeting that FIATA’s Director General, Stéphane Graber, and ASA’s Director General, Fabio Gamba, will attend all Cargo iQ board meetings as observers and work together with the board members, with a view to intensifying the co-operation in the future. “Cargo iQ – an interest group strongly supported by IATA – shares lots of similar goals with FIATA and ASA as all three of us strive to improve standards, data use, and processes in line with shippers’ requirements for a solid and objective quality certification program, so why not work together instead of reinventing the wheel,” said Lothar Moehle, Executive Director, Cargo iQ. “We look forward to continuing the dialogue about how we can help further each other’s ambitions and progress – this is the start of a strong co-operation for the future.”

Block your dates for the fifth edition of SCM Logistics World, to be held on June 7 2023 at Radisson Blu, Mumbai. Centered around ‘Embracing agility to future proof supply chain ecosystems,’ the show will focus on supply chain and logistics sector integrating technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to upscale manufacturing and distribution operations. The show will deliver the must-have insights, strategies and frameworks of chief supply chain officers and their leadership to bring continued agility, resilience and adaptability to their organizations. The forum will gather relevant stakeholders from across sectors to explore latest trends and new age strategies to ensure optimal utilization of the entire function. With over 150 Supply Chain Management leaders attendees in person, the summit provides a great opportunity to learn and network with influential CSCOs, Supply Chain Directors, and industry experts in the supply chain and logistics domain.

Cyrus Katgara, Partner, Jeena & Company notes, “Logistics cost for goods carried by air is already at eight per cent of Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value. It reaches 14 per cent only when all modes of transportation such as road, rail, sea and air are combined together. This also includes inventory holding cost. World bank formula is linked to GDP.” Logistics costs is one of the challenges which the industry is facing at present. According to reports, it accounts for 14 per cent of GDP, with 60 per cent direct costs and 40 per cent indirect costs, compared to an average of 10 per cent indirect costs in developed countries. Also, The value of the Indian logistics sector was $250 billion in 2021. Growing at an impressive CAGR of 10-12 per cent, it may reach $350 billion by 2025.

The 2nd edition of recently concluded Supply Chain and Logistics Conclave 2023 organised by Team Marksmen brought together industry leaders and senior decision makers to deliberate on factors that impact our understanding of the supply chain, right from strategy, sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, storage and transportation, innovations, and much more. The show witnessed participation from Sagar Kadu, Director Logistics, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, Sarala Menon, Executive Vice President, End-to-End Supply Chain, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd., Anil Syal, President, Safexpress, Avinash Dhagat, Vice President Supply Chain, Honasa Consumer Ltd. (Mamaearth), Kopal Agrawal, Chief Procurement Officer, Hindalco Industries, Shonik Goyal, President & Head Supply Chain, Sheela Foam Ltd., Neeraj Bansal, Co-Head & COO – India Global, KPMG India, Vaibhav Vohra, Managing Director, Continental Carriers, Sanjay Gupta, Vice President – Corporate Procurement and Packaging Development, DS Group, Rajat Dhar, Head Supply Chain and Purchase, United Colors of Benetton, Rajeev Mehta, Senior President and Chief Logistics Officer, Ultratech Cement to name a few. Offering his thoughts on the sidelines, Sharad Gupta, Co-Founder and COO, Team Marksmen Network, said, “Legacy supply chains are too long-tailed and opaque, with little resilience, leaving them vulnerable in the face of disruptions that have emerged or yet to come to the fore. The global supply chain order is now increasingly inundated with these fractures, making it vital to embed a greater degree of resilience, sustainability, and value across the spectrum. The Supply Chain and Logistics Conclave 2023 brought together leading minds from across industries to paint a picture of the way forward for all, highlighting best practices and new ways to create value for all stakeholders while managing the multiple pressures besetting industries.” Supply chain leaders must …

Gati, an Allcargo Group company has entered into partnership with Schneider Electric to design greener logistics solutions for the company. In the initial phase of the collaboration, Gati has exclusively deployed alternative fuel vehicles for pick-up of consignments from Schneider Electric’s key distribution centres at Kundli in Haryana, Bhiwandi in Maharashtra and Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Subsequently, deliveries in Gurugram is also being carried out with alternative fuel vehicles. Pirojshaw Sarkari, CEO, Gati Ltd. and Vikrant Tyagi – Director – Logistics and Supply Chain Schneider Electric along with Schneider Electric’s logistics team have flagged off the alternative fuel vehicles at the Farukh Nagar STC on May 24, 2023. Apart from offering low-emission long haul transportations, under the greener logistics collaboration, Gati will also manage local deliveries in Gurugram for Schneider Electric with a fleet of alternative fuel vehicles. Commenting on the association, Pirojshaw Sarkari, CEO, Gati Ltd. said, “The deployment of alternative fuel vehicles is a part of our mission to boost environmental sustainability in express distribution and support the government in reducing carbon footprint. We are delighted to partner with Schneider Electric to develop greener logistics solutions which are in line with our vision to adopt green mobility. We have an ongoing express distribution partnership with Schneider Electric for pan India transportation and delivery. The latest green logistics collaboration will further enhance our synergy with them. We look forward to supporting Schneider Electric in its sustainability goals. We hope that the partnership will serve the foundation for a broader collaboration, focussing on creating an environmentally sustainable and efficient express distribution services.”

RITES Ltd, a transport infrastructure consultancy and engineering firm, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to explore avenues of mutual collaboration for consultancy works in sectors such as Transport & Logistics, Energy, Water & Sanitation, Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure. As part of the MoU, RITES will provide expertise for Pre-Feasibility Reports, Detailed Project Reports, Transaction Advisory, Project Management services, Audits, and Inspection, where PFC and its subsidiaries propose to provide financial assistance for infrastructure projects in India and abroad. The MoU will establish a working relationship between the parties targeting specific requirements and will facilitate the development of proposals, including exploring opportunities at various Government/Semi-Government/autonomous bodies or authorities/private entities and multilateral funding agencies such as World Bank, Asian Development Bank and JICA. Manobendra Ghoshal, Chief Strategy Officer, RITES, said, “The partnership with PFC will not only provide a platform to explore business opportunities in the Consultancy domain but also facilitate knowledge sharing in developing Infra4Future.”

The IRB Golkonda Expressway, a Project SPV of IRB Infrastructure Developers has signed the Concession Agreement with Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) for Tolling, Operations & Maintenance of Jawaharlal Nehru Outer Ring Road, (Hyderabad ORR) in the State of Telangana on Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) basis. Project involves making upfront payment of Rs.7,380 Crs to HMDA for Tolling and O&M of 158 Kms stretch of Hyderabad ORR, over a revenue linked Concession Period of 30 Years Virendra D. Mhaiskar, Chairman & Managing Director said, “It’s our honour to have this prestigious project in our portfolio. We are grateful to the authorities for expressing high trust and confidence in IRB Infra’s rich domain expertise, experience and impeccable record of executing large sized projects across varied geographical terrains of the country. Considering our track record of more than two decades in arranging finances for large sized projects, coupled with our key strength of maintaining strict and strong financial discipline throughout, we are confident of achieving financial closure within stipulated timeframe and get appointed date for taking possession of the project.” He added, “We look forward to bringing World Class travel and project management experience for commuters and other stakeholders of the project.”

Neutral Air Partner (NAP) has partnered with the ATEM Group to launch NeX e-commerce supply chain logistics network. “NeX is an international group of experts focused on advancing the interests of the e-commerce supply chain logistics industry. This is a strategic partnership that brings together a collective of industry-leading logistics providers committed to delivering flawless omni-channel fulfilment operations, cross-border transportation, distribution, return logistics, and end-to-end e-supply chain management,” said an official release from NeX. The network includes highly specialised supply chain logistics experts including express couriers, postal brokers/operators, linehaul consolidators, first & last mile operators, gateway customs brokers, return/reverse logisticians, resellers/wholesalers, e-fulfillment providers, e-commerce marketplaces, 3PLs & distribution providers, tech and solution providers, consultants, carriers, e-tailers, and shippers, the release added. “NeX is an innovative platform that will revolutionise the e-commerce supply chain industry,” said Christos Spyrou, CEO, Neutral Air Partner. “We are proud to partner with the ATEM Group to create the most advanced network of supply chain experts. NeX will provide members with the tools and resources they need to stay competitive in the ever-evolving eCommerce landscape with the power of NAP. NeX members benefit from the global reach of e-commerce experts, building trust in a complex sector, express mail and freight buying power, advanced e-logistics community tools, omnichannel network operations, global contracts with carriers and postal operators, volume incentive schemes, and industry recognition of excellence.”

The government is working to bring down logistics cost to 9 per cent of GDP in the next three years from the current 14-16 per cent, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways. He said, India’s exports will increase when its logistics cost will come down to single digit. He was speaking at an event organised by industry chamber CII . “The government is going by certain estimates which suggest that logistics cost in India is in double digits. The government has rolled out a national logistics policy and PM Gati Shakti initiative to boost competitiveness of industry and cut logistics costs. Earlier this year, the commerce and industry ministry had said that a task force will be set up for formulating a framework to determine logistics costs in the country.”

As part of its expansion strategy, Challenge Group is ready to receive investment of over €60m from Investec Aviation Finance to support acquisition and freighter conversion of a batch of four Boeing 767-300ERs. “This conversion programme is the keystone in Challenge Group’s expansion strategy as it allows it to increase its current fleet of eight widebody freighters,” says the company’s chief investment officer, Michael Koish. “This was no straightforward financing deal. But thanks to strong co-operation and out-of-the box thinking, we were able to solve some of the complicated issues that popped up along the way.” Challenge Group’s logistics operation also includes a cargo terminal in Liege. Investec says the funding has been underwritten jointly by its UK and South African aviation arms. Challenge Group operates carrier divisions in Israel – the company formerly known as CAL Cargo Airlines – as well as Belgium and Malta, and its fleet includes Boeing 747-400 as well as 767 freighters.