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.

CSafe, a provider of a range of thermal shipping solutions for the pharmaceutical cold chain, has launched a new model of its Silverpod pallet shipper that is designed to help users save on disposal costs and improve environmental sustainability. The Silverpod MAX RE, based on CSafe’s single-use Silverpod MAX passive pallet shipper, is made of reusable components. Its maker claims the product offers more than 120 hours of thermal protection. It is made from durable exterior panels with extended edge and corner cap protection so that it can be used many times. The shipper is supplied via a rental model in which CSafe fully manages the life cycle and return of the product. The pallet shipper is supplied flat-packed for delivery, storage and assembly.

Preliminary June 2024 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) show that there was strong demand for international air cargo capacity in the region in June. Overall, Asia Pacific airlines recorded a 16.4% year-on-year increase in international air cargo demand – as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK) flown – in the month. After accounting for a 12.6% growth in offered freight capacity, the average international freight load factor climbed by 2 percentage points to an average of 62.8% for the month. AAPA pointed to a pick-up in manufacturing activity across the Asian economies, including those of China and India, as being in good part responsible for the healthy year-on-year improvement in demand. Rising e-commerce trade and security concerns in the Red Sea also spurred the need for airfreight capacity.

Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA said, “Some TIACA members have expressed surprise at the answer given by IATA as to why they are refusing to accept certificates of DG training without an accompanying letter from the training school that issued them. Firstly, IATA states that over the years it has received fraudulent DG training certificates across the world, considering the serious ramifications of such fraudulent submissions, has this issue been brought up with FIATA through the IFCC?  Also, as Agents who submit fraudulent certificates are breaking national laws and pose a serious safety risk to the industry, has IATA reported these to the national authorities so legal action could be taken?  Have they terminated their IATA agency status?  We checked with several authorities and industry contacts and cannot identify such terminations.  Perhaps IATA can confirm how many fraudulent certificates and in which jurisdictions and what action was taken. Secondly, if an organization has shown no respect for the rules or laws by submitting fraudulent certificates, then why would IATA not think that they would also produce a fraudulent letter from the named training school. And thirdly, IATA refers to changed accreditation rules applicable from July 1, 2024.  Have the rules been changed for every country or just India? Does this mean IATA has changed the applicable Agency Resolutions, which are the rules which govern the accreditation criteria and process?  Or is it an IATA process that has changed?  Surely if IATA is concerned about the validity of certificates provided to them, and they want to tackle the safety risk most effectively, then they should establish a checking mechanism which doesn’t involve the party submitting the certificate. They could check with the …

Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB/BLR Airport) successfully concluded another exceptional mango export season, solidifying its reputation as a key player in the agricultural export industry. BLR Airport shipped a staggering 822 Metric Tonnes (MT) of mangoes in 2024, marking a phenomenal 20% year-on-year growth. Building on the momentum from the previous year when 685 MT of mangoes were exported, this season’s success is further accentuated by the substantial increase in the number of mangoes shipped, totalling 27 lakh pieces. This milestone represents a 59% rise in volume compared to the previous season, showcasing both the increasing demand for Indian mangoes in overseas markets and BLR Airport’s operational efficiency in handling perishable exports. This season, mango exports to US destinations have surged, with airports such as Washington Dulles (IAD), Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), and San Francisco (SFO) emerging as the top destinations for Indian mango shipments. With an extensive export network of over 60 international destinations, including prominent airports like Chicago (ORD), Seattle (SEA), Dubai (DXB), London (LHR), and Houston (IAH), BLR Airport continues to pave the way for Indian agricultural products to reach global markets seamlessly and efficiently. Satyaki Raghunath, the Chief Operating Officer at Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL), said, “BLR Airport’s technologically advanced cold storage facility WFS BLR Coolport plays a crucial role in preserving the quality of the perishable produce throughout the supply chain. This achievement of substantially increasing our mango exports year-on-year reaffirms our position as a premier gateway that meets the growing demand for Indian mangoes, particularly two key international destinations.”