The political crisis in Bangladesh has posed significant concerns for the Indian exporters and importers, and especially for those who were operating or had their factories in the neighbouring country. As per experts, the ongoing disruption will have great impact on the global supply chains and will affect production schedules and delivery timelines of the Indian firms. Commenting on the crisis, C K Govil, President Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) and CMD, Activair Airfreight says, “The ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh has significantly disrupted Indian export cargo transshipments. This turmoil is causing delays and increasing logistical costs particularly affecting sectors like agriculture and textiles. Internet disruption and security concerns at borders are further complicating trade operations.”  

Modern Logistics is all set to start the first phase of its international expansion strategy later this month and has further plans to expand its fleet, said release. “The initial phase of the expansion strategy will begin on August 15 and expand Modern’s service to Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. The second phase will target Mexico and the US within six to twelve months. Cristiano Koga, Chief executive said, “We will start with at least two weekly frequencies [for each route]. We are still defining the days of the week. In terms of capacity, it is 20 to 22 tons per leg. These expansion plans are being supported by Modern Logistics’ acquisition of two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCFs).”

IndiGo CarGo has commenced freighter flights between Kolkata in India and Ezhou in China as it continues to expand its network. The freighter flights between Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) and Ezhou Huahu Airport (EHU) in central China’s Hubei Province will operate three times a week, said Mark Sutch, chief commercial officer cargo, said reports. “A great pleasure to officiate at the opening of IndiGo CarGo’s latest phase of its international freighter strategy,” stated Mark Sutch, CCO-Cargo, IndiGo in a LinkedIn post. “This week we opened a new 3 times weekly freighter service between Kolkata in India and Ezhou in China’s Hubei Province. For our customers the airport’s central China location offer very extensive reach via road feed service to multiple China metros,” he added.  

ESR Group has leased 48,800 sq. ft. of prime industrial real estate to UPM’s business unit UPM Raflatac, a sustainable labelling solutions provider. UPM will use this space in ESR Taloja Industrial & Logistics Park (“ESR Taloja”) to serve its growing customer base in India and achieve higher efficiency in their operations. UPM Raflatac, headquartered in Helsinki, offers a wide range of pressure-sensitive label materials for various applications, from food and beverage packaging to pharmaceuticals and industrial labelling. The new space will provide them with a modern and efficient facility to streamline their operations, including warehousing and distribution. This collaboration amplifies Navi Mumbai’s rising eminence as a preferred industrial destination for international enterprises. Reflecting on this collaboration, Abhijit Malkani, CEO of ESR India, said, “We take immense pride in extending a warm welcome to UPM. Our commitment to providing best-in-class space solutions aligns with UPM’s focus on growth and sustainability. The park’s Grade A+ sustainable infrastructure, pre-certified Gold by IGBC, synergises strongly with UPM’s eco-friendly solutions. This collaboration goes above and beyond operational efficiency – it empowers UPM to operate a sustainable supply chain operation, supported by ESR’s extensive New Economy development and asset management expertise.”

  The Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai in partnership with The Company of Master Mariners of India, has started a two-year executive MBA programme in maritime, logistics and SCM that seeks to fill the gap in nurturing next generation business leaders for an industry estimated worth $450 billion. “Till now, there was no executive MBA programme in India which combines logistics and SCM with maritime management,” Captain M P Bhasin, Master (Chairman), The Company of Master Mariners of India, said in a statement adding . That this MBA programme signifies a pivotal step in our quest to enhance maritime education and management standards in India.

  The global air cargo industry has witnessed a continued surge in demand during the first half of 2024. According to the data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) it has been an exceptional period for air cargo. This remarkable rebound growth has not only surpassed the previous year’s figures but has also outperformed the record-breaking levels seen in 2021. June 2024 marked the seventh consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year growth in air cargo demand.

The government recently approved eight national high-speed road corridor projects of length 936 km entailing investment of Rs 50,655 crore to improve logistics efficiency and connectivity across the country, an official statement said. The implementation of these eight important projects will generate an estimated 4.42 crore man-days of direct and indirect employment, the statement added. The projects approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs include 6-Lane Agra-Gwalior National High-Speed Corridor, 4-Lane Kharagpur-Moregram National High-Speed Corridor, 6-Lane Tharad-Deesa-Mehsana- Ahmedabad National high-Speed Corridor, 4-lane Ayodhya Ring Road, 4-Lane Section between Pathalgaon and Gumla of Raipur-Ranchi National Highspeed Corridor, and 6-Lane Kanpur Ring Road.  

The Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) has established a new board for a two-year term i.e. 2024-2026, in its 12th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 31st July 2024 in New Delhi. Sanjiv Edward, CEO – Cargo and Logistics at GMR Group, has been elected as the President of ACFI for the said term. Yashpal Sharma will serve on the board as an Ex-Officio (Immediate Past President), continuing his support for ACFI’s objectives and the enhancement of the Indian economy. The new governing board is excited and fully charged up looking forward to working together with the ACFI family and scaling new heights.  Together we can. Agenda focuses on air cargo infra-development, policy leveraging, ease of doing business, and overall ecosystem development to support air cargo growth in the country.

Mahima Agarwal, President-HR, CJ Darcl Logistics says, “In the age of digital commerce, Indian customers are demanding a wider selection of products at competitive prices with speedy delivery. Meeting these demands requires a robust supply chain that supports digital commerce. According to the latest Economic Survey, the efforts to build a robust network have helped India rank 22nd in international shipments. The government’s recognition of this sector’s potential for economic growth is evident in initiatives such as the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) and the Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0, which aim to streamline logistics processes and enhance efficiency. To realize the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, it is essential to focus on upskilling and reskilling the workforce in the logistics sector. CJ Darcl Logistics Ltd. exemplifies this commitment by implementing in-house training programs that go beyond technical skills to include self-development, stress management, and leadership. Regular training sessions and driver assessments help identify areas for improvement, ensuring continuous skill development and operational excellence. A dynamic e-commerce sector, supported by a skilled logistics workforce, is vital for generating millions of jobs and driving inclusive economic growth across India.”

Indrani Chatterjee – Group Chief Human Officer, Allcargo Group says, “Skill development in the logistics sector is yet to achieve the desired momentum as there is lack of efforts in the industry to institutionalise skill development initiatives. Given the growing demand of logistics and supply chain services, it’s extremely critical for the industry to develop an institutional framework to generate trained human capital. Allcargo Multi-Skill Development Centre aims to bridge that gap. This centre is a modern facility with a standalone G+2 structure comprising 40 rooms. Spread across 45,000 sq. ft., this centre of excellence is located along the 40 ft. Panvel – Uran road and offers state-of-the-art infrastructure for classrooms and training laboratories. Trainers at the centre are Logistics Skill Council (LSC) TOT (Training of Trainers) certified. It operates under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) model and Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) flagship scheme of the Union Government’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The centre has consecutively been accredited twice with the 5-star category by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). The 5-star category is the top status for a Skill Development Center as per the current accreditation norms. The training goal is to help students gain employment as consignment booking assistant, consignment tracking executive, inventory clerk, documentation assistant and warehouse picker/packer, heavy vehicle drivers, etc. The programs aim to improve their skill proficiencies in functional areas like warehousing documentation, booking, loading, unloading, tracking, MIS, picking and packing processes.”