Category Archives: Supply Chain

Realising the potential of logistics industry in India, the Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) will organise a ‘Young Logistics Programme (YLP)’ on September 24 during FIATA World Congress (FWC) 2018, at Pullman Hotel, Aerocity, New Delhi. Elaborating more on YLP, Tej Contractor, Executive Committee Member, FFFAI and who is spearheading the programme, said, “The objective of YLP is to provide our youth with a global perspective of our industry at present. Currently, disruption is the name of the game. At the YLP we will showcase the disruptive technologies that have changed and will change our industry in the “Battle of the Startups” by presenting three leading startups in various fields.” According to Contractor, learning is the necessity of life. “We learn something new every day and will continue to do so. After an energetic morning with the disruptions with startups, what better way that to introduce the newest way of learning the Logistics Business by playing a game,” he added. At the YLP, FFFAI will excel the process of learning the logistics business ‘with business on the move’ perception.

To create transparency and digital transformation in the courier industry, CourierHome has necessitated to bring out  ‘Blockchain technology & AI,’ for enabling disruption in the logistics industry. The aim is to create transparency of all documents and transactions across the freight landscape, ultimately, increasing the efficiency, agility and innovation of supply chains. With the implementation of the new-age technologies the entire courier process will get automated, making the process more efficient.   Sushant Kumar, Co-Founder & COO, CourierHome, commented, “Today, the application of Blockchain technology is innumerable.  The logistics industry, which is a trillion-dollar industry, is going to alter the landscape of the logistics industry with this revolutionary technology. Seeing the advantages that blockchain brings in logistics, it can prevent frauds, eliminate inaccuracies, increase data security and transparency, improve efficiency, and reduce expenditure.”

With an objective to deliberate on trade related issues and policy matters pertaining to exports from Eastern India, an interactive session was organised under the aegis of FIEO with Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry & Civil Aviation recently. Nari Kalwani, Regional Chairman, FIEO Eastern Region, stated that trade restrictive measures, volatility in currencies and liquidity challenges were rising threats to India’s exporters’ community. He stressed on the need for streamlining infrastructure and logistics issues to boost exports from Eastern Region. The issue of cargo detention at Indo-Bangladesh border due to infrastructural bottlenecks, was a matter which should be taken up through bilateral discussion between the two countries. Prabhu stated that he was glad that the number of exporters were rising in India. In the month of June 2018, there was a 20 per cent rise in exports of India as compared to the previous month. The government has taken large number of measures in few months to promote exports, amidst rising protectionism in developed countries. He also mentioned how India has taken a firm stand at international level to emphasise on the role of WTO for resolving global trade disputes.

The cargo industry in India will now benefit from a new policy, informed Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation of India, Government of India. Addressing the Supply Chain Summit in Delhi, Prabhu said, “The country will soon have a policy on cargo that is being finalised by the new logistics department. For the first time, a logistics division has been created in the country. All the modes in the segment were reaping good results, but, there were no single one-point of contact. The policy is more of a concrete plan, to create new logistics hubs in India. The document is in the final stages of preparation.” The minister has asked the industry stakeholders to give their inputs, which could be incorporated in the policy. He said that the new policy will have a new industrial policy, one for agriculture exports and developing parameters for the country’s districts on ease of doing business.

Agility has signed an agreement with Cold Box Express to offer innovative shipping solutions for temperature-sensitive cargo. Cold Box offers an active temperature-control pallet shipper, designed for mixed-load ground transportation. The shipper is a pallet-sized interior compartment with precise temperature control and range, extended hold times, and 24×7 near-real-time tracking and monitoring. Satish Lakkaraju, Chief Commercial Officer, Agility India, said, “We believe in offering unique, cost-effective solutions that can help customers achieve a more secure cold chain. In the Indian market, where temperatures rise to over 45°C, moving temperature-sensitive cargo can be a challenge. Cold Box’s solution is easy to handle, and perfectly suited to our customer needs.” Under the terms of the partnership, Agility will test one Cold Box as part of a pilot to move cargo for pharmaceutical customers in India. The device will be used for LCL reefer shipments, as well as to move pharmaceutical products to difficult-to-reach locations, areas prone to power cuts, and for last-mile delivery.

Forklift manufacturer and material handling solutions provider Combilift has officially opened its new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Monaghan, Ireland. The new 46,500 sq. m purpose–built factory is set on a 100-acre site with room for future expansion when required. The facility will allow Combilift to realise its ambitious growth plans. Martin McVicar, Managing Director, Combilift, said: “We have employed an additional 230 people since we announced our plans for this factory in 2015 and the combination of this state-of-the-art production plant and the growing skilled workforce will allow us to double production within the next five years.” Speaking about how India has evolved for the group, McVicar adds, “There is massive growth in cold stores in India and here we see opportunity for us. Lot of investment is going on in the manufacturing sector. And, as the manufacturing grows, opportunity seems large for us.”

Rahat Sachdeva, Vice President, Rahat Continental was awarded the esteemed ‘Face of the Future’ award. Sachdeva has done his Bachelors in Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University. He started his career with SDV (now known as Bollore Logistics) at their Heathrow office managing their Aerospace Imports division and then moved back to India in 2006 to join his family business. Sachdeva has taken his family business to new heights, be it bringing innovation in the business or managing and aligning the branches, etc. In 2011 they started their international office in London followed by another one in New York in 2014.  Rahat Continental, is a 140-crore company with the vision to be world’s best freight forwarding company by 2025.

Akash Bansal, Head – Logistics, OM Logistics was awarded the prestigious ‘DDP Game Changer’ award. With 16 years of diversified experience in managing logistics and supply chain across the various industry verticals, Bansal is associated with OM Logistics since 2001 heading Marketing & Sales on pan India basis. He has exhibited leadership in multiple roles and has proven to be a leader with an entrepreneurial business approach, and a track record of growing business results consistently for over many years.  

Ramesh Agarwal, Founder, Mentor, Director and Managing Worker, Agarwal Packers & Movers, joins the esteemed ‘DDP Trailblazer’ award. Agarwal’s journey is one of modern India’s great success stories. He has played a pioneering role not only in shaping Agarwal Movers Group to a point where it is today but also spearheaded national cause in key area of economic development- transport and logistics. Recently, Agarwal Movers Group was awarded for Operational Excellence & Environment Conservation by the CEAT IRTA-2011.

Cyrus Nariman Katgara, Partner, Jeena & Co was honoured with the ‘Gallery of Legends’ award. Katgara heads the more than 100-year old family business of Global Logistics – International Freight Forwarding both in India and abroad. With his rich experience, he has held several positions in many associations. He had been appointed Ambassador to the Port of Halifax; he has arranged top level ministerial delegation and was a liaison between Canadian Embassy and business associations such as CII, FIEO, etc.