Category Archives: Supply Chain

FedEx Express and the world’s largest express transportation company, and Delhivery, the fastest growing fully-integrated logistics services player in India, announced the strategic alliance transaction signed in July has taken effect, following satisfaction of closing conditions including regulatory approval from the Competition Commission of India. This transaction combines the FedEx global network with Delhivery’s extensive pan-India network and technology solutions to bring the best of both worlds together. The investment and the commercial agreement between the two companies deepens the FedEx commitment to the India market, and signals a significant step in providing innovative services and solutions that aim to improve speed, efficiency, and access for FedEx and Delhivery customers, to unlock India’s international trade potential.

Shripad Y. Naik, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and Tourism, Government of India, visited Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), for a comprehensive Port visit. During his visit, the Minister closely observed the Port operations and was apprised about several infrastructural and technological advancements harnessed by the Port, enabling it to offer world-class services to the global maritime and EXIM community. During his visit across the terminals at JNPT, the Minister engaged with the Port stakeholders and explored numerous tech-enabled ‘Smart Port Initiatives’ that are being undertaken to optimize terminal operations in order to further enhance the Port’s efficiency and competence. In addition, the Minister also experienced the RMQC crane simulator, used for training efficient & skilled crane operators, who are an integral and core part of the Port operations.

Ecom Express Limited announced the launch of its first all-women Delivery Center in Delhi. The all-women Delivery Center is an initiative towards empowering women and providing them financial independence while strengthening the company’s Diversity and Inclusion agenda. Women force have already been inducted in the Delivery Center and it will be the first time in the company that a 10-member team, exclusively comprising women from the ranks of Delivery Center Head to Delivery Associates, will be engaged independently in all operational activities. Inaugurating the all-women delivery center, Manju Dhawan, Co-founder, Ecom Express Limited, said, “The launch of our all-women delivery center is a conscious agenda and an extension of our continued effort to supporting women with opportunities that empower them to grow and economically elevate them. Our aim is to create more and more opportunities for female team members across roles, including front-line delivery role as we remain steadfast in our approach to support them and their career progression.”

Responding to November 2021, FIEO President, Dr A Sakthivel said that the monthly exports performance of USD 29.88 billion with a high double-digit growth of more than 26.49 percent, showcases the continuous resilience of India’s exports sector. The enthusiasm with which the Exim community has impressively performed during the year has further given a boost to the sector, thereby helping the economy move towards recovery following the second wave of Covid-19 earlier this year. The recent GDP numbers also showcases the positive impact of exports, which has contributed in a big way to growth of the economy as a whole, added FIEO Chief. Praising the efforts and hard work of the exporters, Dr Sakthivel also welcomed the steps taken by the government under the able and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and also the Union Finance Minister and the Union Commerce & Industry and Textiles Minister for showing confidence and trust on the exporters.

The Inland Container Depot (ICD) Birgunj, Nepal and Indian ports Kolkata and Visakhapatnam aims to offer greater flexibility and reliability for regional shippers with thw new link. Sudhir Sudhakaran, Inland Steering Manager Area India, said, “By expanding its presence in the hinterland bordering eastern India, the firm is able to capitalise on the booming import-heavy niche market.” The rail connection is a regular service, offering greater reliability for planning than previous road arrangements. Customers additionally will be able to receive a Through B/L and can directly take delivery of cargo in Nepal. “The partner we have chosen in Nepal is the ICD operator and now runs a private railroad, which ensures us access to infrastructure and strengthens our ability to deliver quality to our customers,” the company added. Customers can book their cargo up to ICD Birgunj with the choice of Kolkata and Visakhapatnam as gateway ports.

IndoSpace announced its partnership with KSH infra to develop a portfolio of grade A warehousing and logistics parks over the next five years across the country. To develop these assets spread over 10million sq. ft., IndoSpace will be investing Rs 1,000 crore in this new alliance. The primary focus of the joint venture will be the tier I premium micro-markets including Pune, Mumbai, Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), and Bangalore. In this venture, KSH Infra will take the responsibility of identifying and developing the assets and will also be co-investing in the assets along with IndoSpace. “The demand for warehousing and logistics space is high and the opportunity is enormous. As a market leader in this space, we are always looking to support India’s growth by enhancing our reach. With an established partner like KSH Infra, we are confident of tapping into the market potential,” said, Rajesh Jaggi, Vice Chairman, Real Estate, Everstone Group.

GEODIS, a global transport and logistics services provider announced a new sorting center in Schoten, as well as a new office within the airport of Liege. The first will facilitate the expansion of one of its largest international e-commerce customers into the Belgian market. The second is intended to reinforce GEODIS’ e-commerce footprint in Europe. In Schoten, the new 6300 m2 sorting center will host between 100 to 150 express trucks per day. In order to process up to 20,000 parcels daily (140,000 per week) and ensure the fastest possible delivery times, the facility will operate 24/7. “For our customers, this means access to more than 250 million consumers in less than a day by road, also via barge connections from Liege to Antwerp, Rotterdam and on to the Rhine; as well as through air and rail connectivity with China from Zhengzhou, Yiwu and Chengdu,” says Mark van den Assem, managing director of GEODIS for Benelux.

Cochin Port Joint Trade Union Forum has urged the government to abandon a proposal to allow concession in royalty / revenue share payable by private firms — both existing and new ones — handling transshipment and coastal containers at facilities in Centre owned major ports including the terminal run by Dubai’s DP World at Cochin Port Authority. Terming the move as “shocking”, the Joint Trade Union Forum, cutting cross party lines, said it sought “to grant undue benefits to DP World which runs the international container transshipment terminal at Vallarpadam in Cochin Port”. They said the “facts were entirely different” to the arguments put forward by the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways in considering the proposal from the point of view of the Vallarpadam container transhipment terminal. “The terminal operator has miserably failed in utilising the facilities and infrastructure provided by spending ₹1,900 crore from public exchequer and spending annually a further ₹125 crore for maintenance dredging by Cochin Port Authority,” the Forum explained in a letter to the secretary, ministry of ports, shipping and waterways.

Welspun One Logistics Parks (WOLP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Guidance – the Government of Tamil Nadu’s nodal agency, for investment promotion and single window facilitation. This is towards setting up warehousing facilities across the state. The projects will be executed by Welspun One Logistics Parks and will bring direct investments of approximately INR 2500 Cr to Tamil Nadu. Under this MoU, a total of six projects have been proposed in prime warehousing micro-markets like Hosur, Sriperumbudur and Thiruvallur; totalling to a development potential of approximately 8 Mn sq. ft. to be built across a span of 5 years. The MoU signifies a deep relationship between the Government of Tamil Nadu (GoTN) and Welspun One Logistics Parks with the collective aim of enriching the logistics infrastructure within the state. Considering the tangible social and economic benefits that the investments engender, the GoTN has assured support in streamlining the approval processes and single-window clearances for WOLP initiated projects to facilitate the overall ease of doing business. WOLP in turn, is determined to provide high-impact sustainable warehousing solutions by incorporating green infrastructure and an industry-led technology approach.

The UK’s largest port operator, Associated British Ports (ABP) is bringing forward more than 1,000 acres (4,046,856 m²) of development land to support the UK’s supply chain, manufacturing and renewable energy sectors. ABP operates 21 ports around the UK and is making 14 strategic sites, encompassing a total of 1,075 acres, available for a range of business uses. “This initiative will enable a growing number of businesses to leverage our land, property partnering expertise and power capacity. We believe this can make a significant contribution to the country’s economic vibrancy and supply chain efficiency,” commented ABP’s Chief Executive Officer, Henrik L. Pedersen. A first tranche of 14 sites is being brought forward at ports including: Cardiff, Immingham, Newport, Port Talbot, Southampton and Hull. Next year will see the release of further opportunities, while all locations benefit from strong rail and road connectivity plus renewable energy generation, according to a statement. During the next 18 months, ABP has committed to spending more than US$6.5 million to make the sites ready for development, obtaining appropriate outline planning consents, technical understanding and carrying out essential land preparation. “The country needs more distribution hubs adjacent to major conurbations with a good labour supply and which can connect into our road and rail networks,” said Bruce Robertson, head of supply chain and consumer advisory at CBRE, which is advising ABP on the initiative. “The need for more warehouse space to fulfil online retailing, which is growing and was accelerated by the pandemic, plus ongoing labour shortages are putting unprecedented pressure on the UK’s supply chain,” he added. The UK currently has the third-highest e-commerce penetration ratio globally at 24 per cent with an annual online …