Category Archives: International

FreightBro became the first Indian startup to join the Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg in an exclusive event titled ‘Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg Roadshow – An Indo-German Logistics Startups Connect.’ Johannes Berg, Managing Director, Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg, believed, “There is immense potential for partnership and expansion opportunities for Indian startups in Germany. We have collaborated with an Indian startup for the first time and introduced FreightBro to one of our hub partners, DAKOSY who are keen on working on Indo-German synergies. We eagerly look forward to further connect Indian startups to hub partners in Germany and connect German startups with the Indian market. We are grateful to FreightBro for organizing a unique event for us in India and enable us to connect with startups which has been immensely satisfying.” Mohammed Zakkiria A, Co-Founder, FreightBro, said, “Joining hands with Digital Hub is a strategically sound decision for us and is the perfect platform for us to connect with the right partners in Germany and plan future expansion in the European market.”

DP World has launched Log-X, a technology accelerator platform for logistics in India. The accelerator platform was launched in partnership with Invest India, Kerala Start-Up Mission and its accelerator partner Startup Réseau, to encourage innovation and technology adoption in the Indian logistics sector. The program will focus on digital technologies like block chain, artificial intelligence, robotics, simulators and internet of things, to identify logistics-focused technology start-ups in India. “Technology adoption and innovation will play a strong role in building an integrated logistics platform which offer end-to-end solutions for cargo owners,” said Rizwan Soomar, Chief Executive and Managing Director, DP World Subcontinent.

Blue Dart Express announced its General Price Increase (GPI), effective January 1, 2020. The average shipment price increase will be 9.8 per cent as compared to 2019, dependant on the shipping profile. The price increase will apply to all customers signed up until August 31, 2019, those signing up between September 1– 30, 2019 will continue to enjoy benefits at the existing rates, till December 31, 2020. A GPI free period of September 1-30, 2019 for new customers also announced first time ever. This is generally applicable to sign ups between October to December of the previous year. Customers signing up from October 1 to December 31, 2019 will not be impacted by the price increase. Commenting on the announcement, Balfour Manuel, Managing Director, Blue Dart, said, “The price adjustment will allow us to further enhance our capabilities and enable us to delight our customers by providing them high quality solutions and services, best-in-class technology and innovative products”. Ketan Kulkarni, CMO & Head – Business Development, Blue Dart, adds, “Blue Dart has made strategic investments ahead of the curve to remain agile and adaptive in a dynamic environment. These include expanding our reach, improving transit times, network optimisation, infrastructure and technology solutions and focusing on emerging markets, SMEs and key sectors”. Blue Dart adjusts its prices annually, considering inflation, currency dynamics, fuel cost fluctuations and other rising regulatory and mandatory costs, such as expenses related to compliance for the workforce with enhanced security regulations across the large number of locations its services.

FreightBro, associated with the Journal of Commerce, hosted their first India Logistics Technology Summit at the Centre of Incubation and Business Acceleration, Navi Mumbai. The summit witnessed sessions on how software can make key ocean freight processes and capabilities more efficient and less costly, potentially positioning India as the key growth market for world trade in the coming years. The panel discussion brought up interesting conversations and observations; plug and play software start-ups offer a layer of flexibility and standardisation to the freight-forwarding community, the technology platforms act as salespersons reducing customer acquisition costs and older players are opening up to technology once they realize that it is enabling them in all possible ways.

S Ramakrishna, Chairman, Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) urged for greater collaboration between FFFAI and Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NEFFA) for mutual benefits and enhancement of bilateral trade, at the Silver Jubilee Celebration function of NEFFA. Currently, freight forwarders in Nepal are showing concerns over irrational charges levied by shipping lines operating container services between India-Nepal route including labour charges, additional surcharges and demurrage charges resulting in increase in logistics cost. In addition, congestion at dry ports and exorbitant registration charges to use of government’s cargo tracking system remain other areas of concern.

The International Airport Transport Association (IATA) recently awarded the Mumbai and Hyderabad branches of Dachser India with the prestigious CEIV Pharma certification, recognizing the company for its excellence in transporting Life Science and Healthcare (LSH) products. The certification is a significant achievement for the logistics service provider given that only very few companies are currently accredited in India. In fact, the Dachser Hyderabad branch is only the second logistics firm in the area to receive the recognition; while its Mumbai branch is only among a few in the region. The Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) certification is a globally recognized certificate that acknowledges companies who excel in transporting Life Science and Healthcare (LSH) products. It is a quality mark and an industry standard that recognizes the logistics service provider as being able to safely, security and efficiently handle pharmaceutical shipments through the supply chain to assure product integrity and compliance with national and international guidelines. “Obtaining the CEIV Pharma certification is an important milestone for Dachser India. It emphasizes our continued focus for providing highly reliable logistic services to our valued customers in the LSH segment”, said Huned Gandhi, Managing Director, Air & Sea Logistics for the Indian Subcontinent. “Quality and efficiency have always been the cornerstones for our success and our teams are extremely proud to receive this accreditation from IATA”, Gandhi added.

DP World has launched the ‘India-UAE Bridge’ to attract India trade and investments to its Jebel Ali Port and Jafza by offering end-to-end solutions to companies and entrepreneurs. The initiative is set to attract trade and investments for both Indian and the UAE, as DP World offers technology-driven end-to-end (e2e) smarter trade solutions to Indian trade fraternity. The India-UAE Bridge is strategically designed to facilitate trade integration capabilities of global trade enabler DP World’s portfolio of over 150 operations in over 40 countries across six continents. The e2e solutions delivered under the India-UAE Bridge will support investors through value propositions by leveraging assets and capabilities in both countries.

Maersk Line has completed its first successful shipment of mangoes from Nhava Sheva in Mumbai, to Felixstowe, London. Bombay Exports shipped 21 tonnes of Kesar and Badami mangoes within a period of three weeks through Maersk’s reefer containers that use advance Remote Container Management (RCM) technology. Controlled Atmosphere (CA) is one of the offerings which helps in extending the shelf life of perishable fruits and vegetables by slowing down their ripening process. With this innovative offering, perishable goods, which otherwise required airfreight solutions, can now be shipped. Steve Felder, Managing Director, Maersk South Asia, said, “With the difficulties in airfreight in the current scenario, approximately 200 metric tonnes of air exports of fruits and other perishables are being impacted every week, leading to a huge loss of produce. Furthermore, a strong demand for mangoes in European markets, provided us with a chance to leverage our superior technology in preserving refrigerated (reefer) cargo.

Delhi International airport launched a dedicated facility exclusively for cargo handling, called, Transshipment Excellence Centre. The facility, spread over 6,500 square metres, can handle about 20,000 tonnes of cargo a month. The facility can process cargo in a span of 45 minutes to six hours, depending on the type and volume of cargo. The international transshipment cargo is sent from airlines to the centre where it is segregated and sent for onward despatch. The facility will allow exporters and shippers in the region to bring their cargo to Delhi and move it globally.

The 9th edition of India Warehousing Show, underway at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, gained a good start through numerous product promotions and an increased number of footfalls this year. The summit was graced by N Sivasailam, Special Secretary (Logisitcs), Department of Commerce, Ministry of commerce & Industry. Commenting on the National Logistics Policy, he says, “We are trying to integrate players at one platform through National Logistics Portal. A flavour of that is available, called PCS, to those who are dealing with the ports wherein we are trying to sort out the issues relating to transactional data protection.” The summit aims to cover pertinent interesting subjects of the industry, be it the building smart warehouses, the changing face of technology in a warehouse, skilled manpower deterrents, to name a few. The summit will conclude on June 22, 2019.