Category Archives: International

The much awaited India Warehousing Show (IWS) begins today at Yashobhoomi, India International Convention & Expo Centre (IICC), Dwarka, New Delhi. The three day show, open till 13 July is one of the premier events in the warehousing, logistics, and supply chain industry, IWS continues to provide a comprehensive platform for showcasing cutting-edge technologies, fostering industry connections, and driving business growth. Organized by RX India, IWS continues to be a cornerstone event for warehousing, material handling, logistics, automation, and supply chain professionals bringing the entire industry together under one roof. The 13th edition of IWS shall feature  a special address by Shri Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary Logistics & Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, who will share his insights on the evolving logistics landscape in India. His address will highlight the government’s initiatives to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the sector, aligning with the theme “Streamlining Tomorrow: Transforming Supply Chains through Automation. Speaking about the event Mr. Umang Gupta , Country General Manager, RX India said “With the warehousing & logistics sector becoming increasingly critical to national economy, the industry needs to collaborate across the economic value chain and focus on technological advancements for business growth. Over the decade, India Warehousing Show has become the flagship event that brings together policy makers, technology companies & infrastructure customers, all under one roof. The 13th edition of IWS is focused towards the rapidly evolving policy & technology landscape and aims to connect all stakeholders vital to the next stage of warehousing & logistics.” With over 250 exhibitors, IWS aims to offer an immersive experience and platform where participants can witness the latest technological advancements and live product demonstrations from the biggest national and international companies providing …

“India’s high logistics costs, 14-18% of GDP compared to 8% for other global leaders, inflate domestic product prices,” says Sandeep Chadha, Founder and CEO, Warehouster. He adds, “These costs also hinder Indian exports and national logistics policy can streamline operations and reduce expenses, making Indian products more competitive internationally. A well-developed logistics network, stemming from a policy framework, can minimise the spoilage of agricultural products, a crucial mainstay of our supply-side economy, by ensuring quicker movement from farms to consumers, benefiting both farmers and consumers. The e-commerce boom, which thrives on fast deliveries, necessitates improved infrastructure for efficient warehousing and last-mile delivery. The success of e-commerce, with an estimated market size of US$57-60 billion in 2023 and projected to grow to US$300 billion by 2030, a CAGR of 20-22%, hinges on efficient logistics. Last-mile delivery, a crucial aspect here, benefits from the National Logistics Policy and advancements in coordination, offering faster deliveries, improved tracking, and greater reach, especially in remote areas.”

Integrated fund and development management platform Welspun One has raised a second fund worth Rs 2,275 crore, inclusive of co-investment commitments, to strengthen logistics infrastructure in the country. The funds were raised from a diverse pool of approximately 800 Limited Partners (LPs), including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, corporates, and domestic institutions. Combined with ‘Fund 1’, Welspun One’s investor base now comprises approximately 1,000 unique investors, a company statement said. Welspun One had raised Rs 500 crore as part of its first fund in early 2021.  “Our commitment to advancing critical logistics infrastructure is in perfect alignment with India’s strategic objective of reducing logistics costs from 14 per cent to 8 per cent, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of our industries,” said Chairman in a statement.

Mangaluru International Airport has commenced international cargo operations from its integrated cargo terminal with flight IX 815 ferrying 2,522 kg of fruits and vegetables to Abu Dhabi. The inauguration was done in the presence of the AAHL Cargo team, the leadership team of MIA, and representatives from Customs, Airline – IndiGo and Air India Express – and Airport Security Group of CISF, said reports. The airport officials said in a statement that international cargo operations will enable exporters from coastal Karnataka and Kerala and the hinterland to export perishables items, including fresh fruits and vegetables, food, tropical fish, frozen and dry fish, etc. in the form of belly cargo. IndiGo and Air India Express, with their connectivity, will enable exporters to send cargo to Dubai, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain.    

“It is our dream to see Madhya Pradesh becoming cargo hub in the coming years,” said Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh, who was invited as a Chief Guest at ACFI Annual Conclave held in New Delhi. He added, “We have seven airports at present and we have plans to increase the number. We have started work on our ambitious project – ‘Future-Ready MP’ under which we are working on improving multimodal connectivity, developing National Highways, linking MP with Delhi-Mumbai freight corridors, we have inter-state air services started already and we have single window system too. We want the industry to come to Madhya Pradesh and consider it as a manufacturing and cargo hub as there’s lot of potential.” ACFI conclave titled, Unlocking Potential: Paving way for a developed India witnessed participation of industry experts from all across the country and even internationally. Guest of Honour included: Dr Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Adviser, MoCA.

Turkish Airlines Cargo is planning to expand its freighter capacity with the addition of Boeing 777 freighters for global operations, says reports. The carrier announced the order of four Boeing 777 Freighters to be added to its existing fleet of 8 aircraft. Turkish Airlines chief cargo officer Ali Türk said in a statement, “This new investment in expanding our cargo fleet underscores our commitment to meeting the growing global demand for airfreight services. The addition of these Boeing 777 Freighters will not only enhance our operational capabilities, but also serve as another step in our strategic vision to reach the top of air cargo sector worldwide while maintaining our leading position with our unparalleled service and efficiency for our customers across the globe.”

  Multi-modal logistics platform Zipaworld announced the expansion of its warehouse facilities with the setting up of a new facility near Indira Gandhi International Airport in the National Capital. The new facility will service clients from segments such as auto and spare parts, industrial machinery, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, perishables, agricultural products, and FMCG among others, Zipaworld said. This strategic expansion not only aims to address the current limitations posed by the existing infrastructure but also positions the company for substantial future growth going forward, Zipaworld said. “Our current facility has served us well, but as we grow, our needs evolve. The new warehouse, strategically positioned and thoughtfully designed, will allow us to serve our customers more efficiently and expand our market reach,” said Ambrish Kumar, Founder and CEO of Zipaworld. Located near key airports and industrial hubs, the new warehouse facility is set to transform the logistics landscape by offering increased storage capacity, faster shipment processing times, and reduced operational costs, the company said. Spread over an area of 6,500 sq ft, the round-the-clock facility with increased storage capacity will allow Zipaworld handle increased volumes and broaden its product offerings, thereby supporting the company’s rapid growth trajectory, it stated.. With the presence of on-site sales representatives and faster processing capabilities, customer interactions and satisfaction are expected to see significant improvements, the company said. Besides provisions for night clearance to enhance overall efficiency by enabling faster processing and reducing delays, the latest warehousing facility is also equipped with advanced tracking systems, to provide customers with real-time updates on their shipments, improving transparency. By streamlining workflows and integrating seamlessly with airport operations, the new facility will cut down shipment processing times and handling expenses, …

      Air India has selected IBS Software to digitally transform its expanding air cargo operations. Air India has chosen IBS Software’s iCargo solution to support its growth plan and commitment to the airline’s ongoing digital transformation. IBS Software’s fully integrated iCargo solution will enable Air India to digitise end-to-end cargo management, allowing seamless integration of various cargo operations, from sales to billing within a single, integrated platform. This will empower Air India to streamline processes and enhance decision-making capabilities. This partnership comes at a time when Air India has embarked on a significant digital transformation of its core businesses across passenger services, fleet, and cargo operations. Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer at Air India, said: “Air India is on a transformation journey to not only reaffirm its position as a global leader in aviation, but to also establish foundations for future growth. Air cargo is one of the key drivers of our roadmap for future growth, and technology will be at the core of it.” Somit Goyal, Chief Executive Officer at IBS Software, shared similar sentiments, stating: “As one of the most iconic airlines in the world, partnering with Air India is a proud moment for IBS Software. The Indian aviation market is on a major upswing, and we are excited to be partnered with a company that is dedicated to driving this growth. We are proud that our market- leading digital platform for the air cargo industry will support the ambitious transformation goals of Air India’s cargo offering and take it from strength to strength.” The first end-to-end implementation of iCargo is slated for delivery within nine months from the project’s start, promising immediate business …

        The Chennai export cargo terminal (ACCMAA) gate was forced to shut by the CTO due to cargo overflow at the export shed, says Dinesh Krishnan, Regional Chairman, Southern Region at ACAAI adding, “leading to trucks waiting to offload export cargo spilling over to the NH,  customs clearance & handing time taking over 24 to 48 hrs, booked cargo missed flights leading to a flash strike by frustrated CHA employees. The terminal has 2 government CTO for the past few decades , AAICLAS ( the landlord / custodian ) having 80% of the terminal space and AIASL ( the tenant / earlier ground handing & custodian ) leaser for the 20% of the space , but handing over 50% of the export tonnage . The root cause of the current crises and decline of ACCMAA can be traced to inexperience of both these CTO to administer , invest and deliver quality air cargo logistics ( CTO operations ) demanded by the EXIM trade. A meeting was held again yesterday at the AIASL between the stakeholders and the CTO to review the issue , subsequently a debriefing with AAICLAS management was done too to see what can be done to improve the current situation . The crux of the matter is that , this is a landlord ( AAICALS ) and tenant ( AIASL ) dispute , each having a list of long term commercial & operation grievances each other . Chennai air cargo terminal ( ACCMAA ) once the gateway of air cargo from South has seen its market share and fortunes dwindle drastically in the past 15 years .This is despite the fact that Tamilnadu is the manufacturing …