Japanese logistics provider Seino Holdings is entering a 50:50 joint venture with Mahindra Logistics in India to provide Japanese automotive customers with logistics services for finished vehicles, and parts warehousing and transport. Seino MLL Logistics will provide a range of warehousing and transport services supported by digital technologies that will also be available to non-automotive companies. Seino said that working with Mahindra Logistics’ strong network in India it could deliver optimised services and extend its reach with customers in the country, with a strong focus on technology, operations, process innovation and sustainability. Seino said there is continued growth for Japan-based OEMs and automotive parts manufacturers in India.

Samir J Shah, Partner, JBS Group of Companies says, “India is a country that has grown on the aspirations and dreams of its citizens. This approach is needed much more now than ever. There are many issues to be tackled – certification for employees; lopsided or over booked capacities; erratic charging by Custodians; the current political situations in many countries etc.” He adds, “The issues are many in number and solutions not easy. The intention of the bureaucracy and the service providers is to find a quick solution amidst an unclear road map. We also have a new minister for Civil Aviation and it is hoped he would bring a fresh new perspective to all the current issues. Air Cargo is the back bone of so many industries for both inbound and out bound. A slower execution; uncertified personnel, under capacity all add to the existing woes. We must collectively put efforts without being selfish since our survival is based on the survival of the industry.”

Jitan Ram Manjhi is the new Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Former Chief Minister of Bihar is the new MSME Minister under the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Dalit face of NDA, Manjhi, 79, and the leader of athe Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) was Bihar CM between 2014 and 2015 for a short period of 10 months.

Murlidhar Mohol is the new Minister of State in the Ministry of Cooperation; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He is the only Maratha leader from BJP in Maharashtra to have had ministerial birth especially when Maratha agitation has once again resumed in the state. He is also the only leader to be in the Modi government from Western Maharashtra, where the party’s stakes are high in the upcoming assembly polls, slated for November this year. In the recently held Lok Sabha polls, only two BJP members were elected from Western Maharashtra. Besides Mohol, another is Udayanraje Bhonsle, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji, from Satara, says reports.

Harsh Malhotra is the new Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Malhotra, who had served as the Mayor of the erstwhile East Delhi Municipal Corporation in 2015, was picked because of his “ground connect” and “organisational mindset”, a party source said. He is presently the general secretary of the BJP’s Delhi unit. He had joined the BJP youth wing in 1984.  Malhotra was elected as a councillor from Welcome Colony in 2012. Born to migrant parents from Amritsar and brought up in north-east Delhi’s Shahdara, the East Delhi MP is a graduate in botany and holds a law degree from Delhi University.

Ashwini Vaishnaw is the new Minister of Railways; Minister of Information and Broadcasting; and Minister of Electronics and Information Technology. The Wharton-educated minister is an alumnus of the prestigious IIT Kanpur.Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw (born in 1970) is a Member of Rajya Sabha from Odisha. He served the people of Sundergarh, Balasore, Cuttack and Goa. He earned Master’s in Technology from IIT Kanpur and MBA from Wharton. He brings a combination of skills in technology, finance and its application to weakest sections of society. He firmly believes in the philosophy of ‘Antyodaya’, i.e. transforming the lives of the marginalized sections of society.

Sarbananda Sonowal, a BJP veteran from Assam, took the oath as a Union Cabinet Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways in the Modi government for the third time. The 61-year-old’s clean image, oratorial skills and popularity among the masses in Assam ensured that he got another stint at the Centre for the third time.  Sonowal was the minister of state (independent charge) of youth affairs and sports in the first Modi government from 2014 to 2016, when he resigned to head the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition in Assam.

Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has assumed the position of the Civil Aviation Minister, replacing Jyotiraditya Scindia. Naidu hails from Andhra Pradesh, at 36 years of age, Naidu represents the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as a Member of Parliament from Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency, he is the youngest-ever Minister in Modi.

Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL) handled an impressive one million tonnes of air cargo in fiscal year 2023-2024, achieving a milestone. The achievement underscores AAHL’s robust operational capabilities and strategic growth in the aviation industry. Demonstrating solid growth, AAHL facilitated a remarkable 10,13,115 metric tonnes of cargo in FY 2023-24, capturing an impressive 30.1% market share. This represents a significant 7% y-o-y increase compared to the previous fiscal, when the total cargo tonnage was 9,44,912 metric tonnes. In FY 2023-2024, AAHL’s cargo operations were predominantly international – 65% of the cargo managed was international. This showcases AAHL’s efficiency in managing worldwide operations while maintaining a robust domestic presence. The international cargo tonnage amounted to 6,62,258 metric tonnes, recording a notable 9% y-o-y growth compared to the previous fiscal’s 6,06,348 metric tonnes. The cargo operations were driven by commodities, including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, perishables, electricals/electronics, and engineering goods. They were efficiently handled across the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai), the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad), the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (Lucknow), the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, the Mangaluru International Airport, the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (Guwahati) and the Jaipur International Airport. The major international destinations for cargo included Germany, Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Reflecting on the achievement, Mr. Arun Bansal, CEO, AAHL, said, “At Adani Airport Holdings Limited, we have been consistently setting new benchmarks for operational efficiency. The cargo terminals have achieved a remarkable milestone, handling over 1 million tonnes this fiscal year. This achievement solidifies our position as key facilitators in both international and domestic airfreight operations in India.” The following highlights from fiscal year showcase 2023-2024 AAHL’s …