Category Archives: International

Ground handling services provider, Çelebi Aviation Holding, has won the ground handling license for Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) for 10 years through an international competitive bid process. This is the third win for Çelebi since last year, after winning the licenses for the Bengaluru and Kannur airports. The company plans to make an investment of $5-6 million at the airport. Murali Ramachandran, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Çelebi Aviation Holding Inc India, said, “The year gone by was a very important year for Çelebi as it marked the 10th anniversary of our India operations. Our partnership with RGIA is an important benchmark in our decade long journey as it sets another milestone towards our efforts of strengthening our presence and commitment in the India aviation market.”

SpiceFresh launched a dedicated freight service to transport fresh produce. To mark the occasion, two flights flew one tonne each of mandarin oranges from Guwahati International Airport (GAU), to Hong Kong (HKG) and Dubai (DBX), according to a Twitter statement from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Chandra Mohan Patowary, Industries and Commerce minister, said, “He hoped that the mandarins produced in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will brighten the future for these states in terms of exporting agri-horti produce from north-eastern states. Authorities from SpiceJet said that its flights will go to Hong Kong with 18 tonnes of freight between Guwahati and Kolkata daily, while both the Hong Kong and Dubai routes will be connected via the company’s international network.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) organised a port study-tour for the largest global congregation ever to visit any port in India. The congregation included 38 government officials from 36 countries, who are part of the Global Strategic Growth Leadership & Sustainable Development program initiated by ITEC with the support of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Neeraj Bansal, Chairman-in-Charge, JNPT, said, “India is a significant contributor to the global container cargo business and JNPT has been the driving force behind this growth, accounting for around 53 per cent of the total containerised cargo volume, across the major ports of India. We are delighted to have government officials from so many countries coming together, here, to understand our role in the global perspective. Such collaborative efforts help in promotion of trade between India and the rest of the world which will give a fillip to Indian economy.” The delegates represented host of nations like, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba, Iraq, Srilanka, Nigeria, Colombia, South Africa, Egypt, Guinea, Peru, Kenya and Vietnam.

According to a PTI report, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has concluded the import and delivery of 50 GE locomotives from US to Indian Railways. All the 50 locomotives were manufactured by GE or the General Electric Division in US, which is an American multinational conglomerate, and the locomotives had been imported to Mundra port. APSEZ dispatched 50 GE locomotives from Mundra port for the Indian Railways. This is a first for Indian shipping and logistics, Adani Ports said.

With an aim to meet the significant increase in demand for cargo services to India, Saudia Cargo is offering 60 tonnes of cargo capacity per week in the bellies of its A330 aircraft flying to Calicut International Airport (CCJ), Kerala. Omar Hariri, Chief Executive Officer, Saudia Cargo, said, “The cargo business is doing its best to support the agricultural products and general cargo of Kerala region, exploring every way possible to increase exports from the neighbouring cities of Calicut.”

To promote the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran-India route under International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), FFFAI and Embassy of Kazakhstan jointly hosted a round-table meet in New Delhi. Samir Shah, Past Chairman, FFFAI, suggested that Indian freight forwarders/logistics companies as well as logistics company representatives from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran utilise the platform for expansion of their horizon through exchange of ideas on mutual requirements. Commending the Government of India initiative, Shah reiterated FFFAI’s firm commitment to make the INSTC project a success. He also appealed to Indian companies to study and explore opportunities and new avenues of forwarding and logistics business on the highly potential Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran-India route.

Maersk has begun its port operations at Ennore (Kamarajar port), offering connectivity between Far East Asian ports of Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia), Busan (South Korea), and Xingang (China), as well as Indian ports of Chennai, Krishnapatnam, and Visakhapatnam. The company also celebrated the maiden call for its existing ‘Chennai Express’ service at the new container terminal in Ennore port, which is about 15 miles north of Chennai. “The rising global trade to and from India is leading to congestion and moving to new ports that offer quicker turnaround and better service is crucial. Port Ennore has the potential to be the new gateway to South India, and Maersk is geared up to support our customers move their cargo to and from anywhere in the world. Moreover, we can also help our customers with intermodal transport options for end-to-end connectivity across the region, backed by our fleet of trucks and train facilities,” said Steve Felder, Managing Director – India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives, Maersk.

India has urged Bangladesh to use Kolkata and Haldia ports for transhipment purposes. The initiative will reduce coastal shipping rates and boost bilateral trade, thereby shifting cargo from the costly land route, and create an opportunity for Bangladeshi garment exporters to reach European and American markets avoiding congestion at the Chittagong port. The proposal was reiterated at a ministerial meeting in Dhaka recently. Indian customs authorities have already cleared the deck for Bangladesh to use Haldia as a transhipment port. However, Bangladesh is yet to approve the same. At the crux of the proposal is the growing need to augment handling capacities on either side, keeping in tune with growing trade volumes.

OceanPro , an intensive 120-day accelerator programme, is offering start-ups an opportunity to partner with Maersk to bring innovative technology solutions to ease the global supply chain for customers. Pioneered in India, OceanPro complements Maersk’s innovation efforts worldwide. Seven external start-ups and one internal start-up have been identified for collaboration to create solutions that serve customers and manage operations better, leveraging Blockchain, Internet of Things, Advance Text Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. “We recognise the immense potential of India’s technology and digital talent and are looking to capitalise on these capabilities to help the logistics industry worldwide, to reinvent itself,” says Søren Skou, CEO, A.P. Moller – Maersk.

The bilateral trade between the India and Bangladesh can utilise their connectivity to boost trade. There is immense scope for increasing Food & Beverages (F&B) exports from India to Bangladesh, says an senior official. Bangladesh is sending a strong buyer delegation to India during the upcoming Indus Food-II to be held in January 2019, in Greater Noida, organised jointly with Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The bilateral trade between the two countries is set to  touch $9 billion, out of which Bangladesh exports goods are worth $900 million. “India being an immediate neighbour with whom Bangladesh not only shares a long border but also culture, traditions and language will be looking towards India to import the items it needs,” says Jahangir Bin Alam, CEO  India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IBCCI).  Presently, Bangladesh’s total import of F&B from the world is $5016.4 million, out of which India is 5th in ranking with exports worth $332.4 million. Bangladesh currently sources 17.2 % of its F&B requirements from Brazil, followed by Indonesia (12.1%), Canada (9.7%), Argentina (9.1%) and India (6.6%). Improved connectivity between the two countries will help a lot in developing trade further. Source: PIB