India’s first virtual shipping and marine exhibition titled, ‘ShipBuild India Expo Summit 2022’ is all set to kick-start in Mumbai from May 11 to 13, 2022 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon East, Mumbai, India. Powered by Blue Economy Event Series, an Oceantrade Media’s intellectual property, the inaugural edition of ShipBuild India Expo Summit 2022 shall provide the Indian Maritime sector an integrated platform for both live business networking opportunities as well as future technological knowledge summits. The event will provide an opportunity to the Indian and International manufacturers, suppliers, technology and systems integrators and service providers to come together under one roof to discuss potential business opportunities and new partnerships.

International Airlines Group (IAG) Cargo has recorded growth in the revenue for first quarter of 2022 of £32m, an increase of 23.4 per cent as compared to first quarter 2021. This positive first quarter cargo growth is for the period from January 1 to March 31, 2022. “The results represent an increase of 18.6 per cent at constant currency versus the same period last year. Overall yield for first quarter 2022 reflected an increase of 2.3 per cent at constant currency versus corresponding period in 2021,” read a company statement. FQ in 2022 saw an increase of 19 per cent in sold tonnage as compared with the same period in 2021. “Demand was high between the US and Europe for key industrial goods such as automotive parts, with IAG Cargo increasing the availability of wide-body aircraft on European feeder lanes into Heathrow,” the statement stated.

Hans Infomatic was presented with the ‘Best IT & Software Solution Provider of the Year’ Award at the recently held India Cargo Awards, the country’s topmost supply chain awards which helps create a platform to recognise those behind the success of the cargo and logistics industry. Amrit Lal Meena, Special Secretary (Logistics), Union Department of Commerce and Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, Union Ministry of Civil Aviation presented the award. Parvinder Singh, MD, said, “Thank you CargoTalk for honouring me with this award. Such functions are important to make the industry aware about the importance of technology. There is a need to change the mindset towards technology. Still, many industry players handle a lot of paper documents. Electronic documents, like e-AWB, would have eased the workflow. The small and medium segment logistics service providers are still slow in adopting technology.”

Maritime Transport & Shipping India Expo 2022 Global Maritime Logistics and Shipping business networking exhibition and conference will begin in Mumbai on May 11-13, 2022. The event which will take place at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon East is supported by Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Indian Ports’ Association, Inland Waterways Authority of India, and Federation of Indian Exports’ Organisation. The inaugural edition of Maritime Transport & Shipping India Expo 2022 shall provide global maritime logistics, cargo, freight, material handling, supply chain, coastal shipping industry and inland waterways an integrated platform for both live business networking opportunities and future technological knowledge summits.

Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways has set an ambitious target to construct a record 18,000-km of highways in 2022-2023 at a pace of 50 km per day. The FY2023 target is said to be 33 per cent higher than last fiscal. “I am not giving a guarantee that we will achieve this ambitious target, but we will try hard to achieve it” Gadkari said, in the event recently. The minister also added that the government is planning to award construction contracts of 18, 000 km in FY2023. In 2021-2022, the government reportedly constructed 10,457 km of national highways, a 24 per cent decrease from the previous fiscal year.

OM Logistics, Phonex Group, and Roadwings International have joined hands for a tri-party venture, OPR Seaways, to provide Inland Water Transport (IWT) services to Bangladesh. The first sailing was conducted successfully on 5 May 2022, with 74 TEUs loaded and sailed out on barge ‘MV Ashrafi 2’ owned by M/s Abul Hassan & Brothers, Kolkata. This initiative has opened numerous trade opportunities between India and Bangladesh—less transit time and overall profitability. OPR Seaways aims to provide hassle-free, quick, and reliable container transportation services to Bangladesh via barges through consolidated logistics. Om Logistics has recently acquired Transafe (a unit of Balmer Lawrie & Co.) which has an inventory of over 15,000 containers ready for this movement. Phonex-Roadwings with their equipment base, stevedoring and shore handling expertise and tie-ups in Bangladesh are adding to this venture. The company is focused on providing consolidated logistics to the exporters where even a single container or less than container (LCL) cargo can be ferried from across India to Bangladesh in the most economical manner. This movement shall benefit Kolkata Port trade. With chartered and modified barges, lower handling costs, in-house vehicle fleet, Container Freight Station, and custom and non-custom bounded warehouses, OPR has a massive competitive edge.

Blue Dart Express Limited announced ₹1,354 million profit after tax (previous year ₹ 891 million profit) for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, and ₹3,764 million profit after tax (previous year ₹963 million profit) for the year ended March 31, 2022. Revenue from operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, stood at ₹11,659 million and ₹44,090 million for the year ended March 31, 2022. The company declared its audited financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2022, at the board meeting held in Mumbai recently. Balfour Manuel, MD, Blue Dart said in a statement, “Our customer-first approach, focus on investing in tech capabilities and remaining agile in a VUCA environment, has helped the company improve its margins. FY 2021-22 has been a rewarding year. Across parameters, Blue Dart has once again embodied our vision in Connecting People, Improving Lives.”

Air Logistics Group was conferred the ‘Best Cargo GSA’ Award at the recently held India Cargo Awards, the country’s topmost supply chain awards which helps create a platform to recognise those behind the success of the cargo and logistics industry. Amrit Lal Meena, Special Secretary (Logistics), Union Department of Commerce and Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, Union Ministry of Civil Aviation presented the award. Vikramjeet Ahluwalia, MD- India, Air Logistics Group said, “Thank you DDP Group and CargoTalk for organising India Cargo Awards after a gap of two years and honouring me at this event. It is always wonderful to meet the industry leaders in person rather than through video cameras or computers. It’s a fantastic start to the year 2022.”

V-Xpress, part of V-Trans (India) Ltd announced acceleration in its growth by 30 per cent. The company owes the success to the newly launched innovative product ‘Box N Ship’ business service which has grown at an increased rate of 40 per cent month-on-month. Mahendra Shah, Group, MD, V-Trans (India) Ltd said, “We are proud to announce our acceleration of V-Xpress by 30 per cent. This growth is one of the key achievements and we aspire to continue achieving such milestones in the future as well. We have launched new products like ‘Box N Ship’, and has further strengthened air business, the focus of leadership team along with strategic efforts of senior colleagues are enabling the fast-paced growth, “Our IT-enabled infrastructure helps us to provide the best services to our customers. We have established a widespread network of branches across India that caters to delivering the needs of growing industries. Our effectiveness and experience in handling and delivering various industry products make us a good choice for all industries,” Shah added.

Qatar Airways Cargo has announced Chapter 3 of charitable initiative, ‘WeQare’ titled as ‘Let’s Stand Together.’ The third part of the carrier’s initiative will include a donation drive that seeks to gather donations for children from April 26 to May 10. The donation drive focuses on education, sports, and fun, stated an official release. Qatar Airways Cargo is collecting study material, clothes and sports items as well as toys, musical instruments, and board games. To collect all the donations, each station of the company has its own collection point, where people can drop off their donations. Qatar Airways Cargo has also opened six donation collection points for its employees, as well as a public collection point in Doha. To make their dreams a reality, Qatar Airways Cargo wants to gather forces to support this next generation by sending them toys, educational material, and sports items so that they can enjoy their childhood. Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo, said, “Children are the future generation and we hope they bloom and develop to their full potential.”