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.”  

Vineet Malhotra, Director and Co-Founder, Kale Logistics Solutions says, “Human resource development is often relegated in the run to improve infrastructure and technological capabilities. A World Bank report says the skill gap and digital fluency is comparatively low among the logistics industry workforce. The National Logistics Policy envisages an upskilling and reskilling of workforce to adapt, innovate and excel. However, the mere success of this framework lies in execution. It must enable them to think critically, learn continuously and thrive in an ever-changing environment. In the last 3-4 years, the skillset in the logistics industry is rapidly changing to be more data and tech driven. Industry bodies and private players have a huge role to play in shaping up the skill-gap. Today, we see several top logistics companies have come up with an inhouse training programmes for their employees with the attributes of adapt, innovate, and excel. Opportunities are enormous for the youth as the logistics industry is becoming competitive. It contributes to 14% of Indian GDP and can generate 10 mn jobs by 2027. On the other hand, industry consortiums too are playing a pivotal role in fast-tracking this progress. We see educational institutes actively collaborating with the industry to ease the process and bridge the skill gap. We see specialized programs on AI, Blockchain and IoT offered by Indian B-Schools with a management perspective offered by institutions are actively pursued by young professionals and the outcome looks promising. In-fact logistics is now specialised programs in technical institutes as well.”

Alpana Chaturvedi, CEO, MyLogistics Gurukul says, “As the industry is becoming more specialized, besides the conventional careers, jobs in the areas of Data Analytics, Warehousing specialists, Cold Chain specialists, Pharma sectors, Sales, Finance, have grown. Besides core logistics jobs, there are also opportunities in Trainings, L&D, SMEs, Branding and Social media personnel in the creative side. It has become important to brand the industry as a preferred career option as there is a misconception that Logistics is only about blue collared jobs. We interact with MBA students, Tech Institutes, students of International Business and talk about the myriad job opportunities there are for each of these students. There are many opportunities and preferred career opportunities for women in Logistics as team leaders, Managers, Sales and Marketing, Finance. Women can carve an enriching career for themselves, and more and more women are being seen in different departments. It might not be only about the starting packages being attractive but also showing a career path, growth, decision making powers, travel opportunities that attract youngsters. We conduct several workshops where the industry speaks to the youngsters and shares their experiences.”

        Blue Dart Express has collaborated with the Swades Foundation to revitalize Safed Musli cultivation in Nashik as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This joint initiative has significantly enhanced farmer incomes and provided an innovative solution for crop diversification. Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), a high-value tuber crop renowned for its medicinal properties, such as enhancing vitality, boosting immunity, and addressing gynecological disorders, had been critically endangered due to unsustainable collection and habitat loss. The tropical climate and altitude of Surgana taluka in Nashik create an ideal environment for cultivating this valuable herb. However, the high cost of planting material had deterred widespread cultivation. Swades Foundation, a grassroots organization dedicated to rural empowerment, partnered with Blue Dart in FY’23-24 to conduct a pilot program involving 82 households in Nashik, each cultivating Safed Musli on 5 gunthas (5,000 sq feet) of land. Through comprehensive training and support from Swades, farmers were introduced to Safed Musli cultivation, provided with high-quality planting material, and guided throughout the crop cycle to the post-harvest stage. The results were remarkable, with farmers achieving a yield valued at Rs. 1,200 per kilogram, leading to an income of Rs. 28,575 per household.