The Air Cargo Club of Delhi (ACCD) recently hosted a luncheon and "Cocktails and Conversation" event for the air cargo fraternity members.
On behalf of the managing committee, ACCD members extended their gratitude, love and support to the entire ACCD family.
"Since we all had an year of hardly any networking, socialising or meet ups, ACCD wanted to ensure they leave no stones un-turned in getting all their members and their spouse together for an evening to remember at one of the Delhi’s most popular club," said and ACCD official spokesperson.
Ecom Express Limited, India’s sole pure-play B2C e-commerce logistics provider as of the Financial Year 2024, has introduced a new brand identity, underscoring its commitment to customer-centricity. This rebranding reflects a focus on addressing specific customer needs, prioritising customer-facing metrics, and integrating innovative technology across its nationwide express logistics network. The goal is to enhance speed, agility, and network reach, ensuring a customer-focused approach. The rebranding includes a dynamic logo and a refreshed visual identity, symbolising Ecom Express’s pursuit of excellence. The new logo features a forward-moving arrow within a square, representing the company’s dedication to delivery. The letter "E" in the logo stands for Expression, Innovation, and Progress, while the bold magenta colour signifies bravery, self-expression, and strength. This vibrant magenta reintroduction reflects Ecom Express's renewed commitment to customers, partners, and team members, as the company aims to simplify and democratise logistics for all. Ajay Chitkara, CEO and MD of Ecom Express, elaborated on the transformation, stating, “Our refreshed brand identity reaffirms our customer-first approach as we continue to integrate technology and innovation to provide reliable, high-speed services with the widest network reach. This transformation also underscores our commitment to our employees and delivery partners, who are essential to our business.” The new logo embodies Ecom Express’s dedication to its core values, focusing on customer welfare and fostering a diverse, inclusive environment. This rebranding signifies a promise to redefine logistics through advanced technology, making life easier for all types of customers.
The Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) held its 6th EC Meeting for the term 2021-23 on May 27 and 28 in Bengaluru. The meeting was attended by the Office Bearers and 28 Member Association representative of FFFAI from across the country, there were many issues discussed and updates provided concerning customs, CBLR, EDI, Service Tax/GST, logistics, air cargo, sea cargo, skill development,importance of social media which FFFAI has expanded recently, technology developments, etc. The special focus of the 6th EC meeting was the updates on forthcoming 24th Biennial Convention of FFFAI to be held from August 12 to 14, 2022 in Chennai with the theme LOGISTICS RESHAPE, EMBRACE AND SURGE IN THE DIGITAL ERA. At this EC meeting, FFFAI also implemented Digital Learning platform for members and next generation for e-learning. It has been decided that FFFAI would initiate FIATA eFBL here in India to benefit the trade, which empowers customs brokers, freight forwarders and logistics service providers. In addition, updates on the recently held FIATA HQ Meet was also provided by the concerned members of FFFAI. FFFAI members present at this EC meeting stressed upon enhancing productivity on ICEGATE for trade facilitation and Ease of Doing Business. The FFFAI members also urged for creating a dedicated portal for LSP integration. As regard to skill development initiatives, IIFF’s (training arm of FFFAI) past and forthcoming training programmes (both online and classroom/physical) for the entire logistics industry were presented at the EC meeting. In addition, FFFAI’s various initiatives on capacity building through technology/IT also discussed withadequate importance. Recent activities of FFFAI Women’s Wing including organising interactive meetings with Government of India officials and industry experts were highlighted at this meeting which drew huge appreciation from the members. The members committed to expand the activities of the Women’s Wing in all the 28 member association locations to empower/encourage the women logistics practitioners. At this EC meeting FFFAI has signed an MoU with the National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) with an objective of skilling the aspiring candidates looking for opportunities in the logistics sector. Notably, a special session was organised at this 6th EC Meeting where N Sivasailam, former Special Secretary (Logistics), Ministry of Commerce, Government of India was present to address the FFFAI members and highlight the recent initiatives of the government in strengthening the logistics infrastructure, thereby leading in increase of international trade through multimodal connectivity and faster cargo clearance. He projected the ambitious growth potential of the logistics industry in India with a strong collaboration between government and industry people. Also speaking on the occasion was Bani Bhattacharya, IRS, who interacted with members of FFFAI on various initiatives of CBIC for the trade facilitation without human intervention. FFFAI Chairman Shankar Shinde thanked all the 28 associations for their support and appreciated the contribution of CBIC/DG systems trade facilitation measures. FFFAI Member Associations are: 1. Ahmedabad Custom Brokers' Association2. Aurangabad Customs House Agents Association3. Association of Custom House Agents Thiruvanthapuram4. Bangalore Custom House Agents Association5. Brihnamumbai Custom Brokers Association6. Calcutta Customs House Agents Association7. Chennai Customs House Agents Association8. Cochin Customs Brokers' Association9. Coimbatore Customs House and Steamer Agents Association10. Custom Brokers Association Hyderabad11. Delhi Customs Brokers Association12. Goa Custom Brokers Association13.Indore Customs House Agents Association14. The Kakinada Customs Brokers Association15. Kandla Custom Brokers Association16. Kanpur Customs Brokers Association17. Ludhiana Customs House Agents Association18. Mangalore Customs House Agents Association19. Mundra Customs Brokers Association20. Nagpur Customs House Agents Association21. Nashik Customs House Agents Association22. Nadia Custom Brokers Association23. Pipavav Custom Brokers Association24. Pune Customs House Agents Association25. Rajasthan Customs House Agents Association26.Tuticorin Custom Brokers Association27.Visakhapatnam Cusotms Brokers' Association28.West Bengal Custom House Agents Society FFFAI welcomes Women in Logistics/Youth in Logistics to participate on FFFAI forums and also invites membership application form logistics service providers in industry as this is a big national and international forum to network.
Building a visionary company requires one percent vision and 99 percent alignment. This analogy resonates deeply when we compare the process of building a company to conducting a symphony orchestra. Just as a conductor leads musicians to create a harmonious masterpiece, a successful business and its management fosters alignment among team members to achieve extraordinary success. In the business world, this vision translates into a clear understanding of where the company wants to go and what it aspires to achieve. The one percent of vision acts as the guiding force that sets the stage for greatness. However, a conductor alone cannot create a symphony. The true magic lies in the collective effort of the musicians, each playing their part to perfection. Similarly, in a visionary company, alignment becomes paramount. Every team member needs to be facing in the right direction, equipped with the right skills, and focused on delivering the right results at the right time. By fostering alignment, harnessing the diverse talents within the team, and continuously fine-tuning performance, savvy teams and visionary leaders carry the potential to transform their companies into harmonious and successful organisations that resonate with greatness. Embracing the power of alignment, inspiring teams with a clear vision, and actively cultivating an environment where every member can contribute their unique talents, RE Rogers India has over the years formed an indispensable pillar of business triumph. Most recently, the company orchestrated a symphony of success handling over 300 events in the fiscal year 2023. Four of these were mammoth events taking place in four different cities at around the same time frame. And these were not merely gatherings, they were milestones. The four gigantic events (CPHI and PMEC 2023 – 28 to 30 November at India Expo Centre, Noida; ENGIMACH 2023 – 6 to 10 December at Helipad Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat; EXCON 2023 – 12 to 16 December at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru; PLASTIVISION 2023 – 7 to 11 December at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai) entailed approximately 650 on-ground manpower, 4300 packages, 370 equipment display, and 3600 vehicles. The symphony of greatness bubbled up in RE Rogers India's operational procedures and functions, and the teams and management leadership soared to create a masterpiece of lasting success as always. "To our heroes who faced the challenges head-on in handling their jobs with total finesse, and to our valuable customers who trusted us blindly during our busiest period pan-India: A HUGE THANK YOU!," the RE Rogers India team was quoted expressing in a LinkedIn post. As the demand for large-scale events and exhibitions continues to rise, the need for comprehensive and reliable exhibition logistics services has never been more critical. In India, where the exhibition industry thrives, one name stands out among the rest — RE Rogers India — who have been delivering unparalleled logistical solutions tailored to the unique demands of the exhibition sector. RE Rogers India have years of first-hand, specialist experience in handling every aspect of exhibitions, ranging from freight forwarding, transportation, customs formalities, secure handling of materials, on-time delivery and site assistance and supervision. Remember that logistics is not just about getting your materials from point A to point B; it’s about ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience for everyone involved in your exhibition, from exhibitors to attendees. So, if you partner with RE Rogers India, you’re not just hiring a logistics company; you’re bringing a dedicated and reliable team on board to ensure your exhibition materials reach their destination in perfect condition and on time. Having served a variety of clients from both the domestic and international arena, the company has developed deep understanding of the unique challenges of delivering time-critical goods in the face of huge crowds, open day pressure, and complex logistical requirements. RE Rogers India fully understands the value of complete exhibition sets in terms of the clients’ reputation and market standing, ranging from trade show booths, exhibits, and other equipment, which include wooden panels, steel frames, prefabricated designs, bunk houses, E-houses, printed material, lights, electronic items and other display resources. The company therefore takes utmost care to pay close attention to critical things like packing, loading, storing, lifting, etc. so as to eliminate any chance of damage. Due diligence is also exercised in choosing optimum and fastest mode of transport to enable the materials to reach the venue well in time, so as to facilitate timely set-up by the clients team at the venue. Post-exhibition, pick-up and delivery back to the shipper is also handled. With RE Rogers India as your esteemed logistics partner, you can focus on wowing your audience and making the most of your exhibition experience. Under the astute leadership of Ravinder Sethi, RE Rogers India is not just reaching new heights; it is setting successive benchmarks. With the innate ability to see through the intricacies and a commitment to perfection down to the minutest detail, Sethi has steered the company towards a trajectory of unparalleled success. His visionary approach complemented by the team's meticulous attention to excellence have become the driving force behind RE Rogers' ascent in the events and exhibition logistics sector. The collective efforts of Sethi and his entire team continue to sculpt a legacy of precision and excellence in the world of logistics that remains exciting, challenging and rewarding.
A significant milestone has been achieved in the Indo-Bangla railway project with the inauguration of the inaugural freight train connecting Bangladesh's Gangasagar to Tripura's Nischintanpur. This momentous event marks a significant step forward in strengthening the rail connectivity between the two neighboring countries. The new railway connection is set to enhance trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh, providing a more efficient and cost-effective mode of transportation for goods. It will not only boost bilateral trade but also promote economic development in the region by opening up new opportunities for businesses and industries. The Indo-Bangla railway project is part of a broader effort to improve connectivity and foster closer ties between the two nations. It is expected to play a vital role in facilitating the movement of goods and passengers, ultimately contributing to the economic growth and prosperity of both countries.
The past decade has been a transformative period for the Indian logistics sector, characterised by a blend of challenges and growth opportunities. Key milestones such as the formal recognition of logistics as infrastructure, the implementation of GST, and disruptions from COVID-19 have reshaped the industry landscape. During this time, technology adoption surged, sustainability became a focal point, and the sector prioritised agility and resilience. As a result, new business models emerged, and the sector registered a growth rate of 8%-9%. Throughout this period of growth, logistics companies have created significant value for their customers by offering innovative solutions, improving efficiency, and providing exceptional service experiences. However, the process of capturing and capitalising on this value is complex, requiring long-term investment and strategic focus. Companies typically follow one of two paths: competitive pricing or superior customer value. Yet, only a few have successfully extracted profits and solidified their competitive position, while others have faced decline. On a broader scale, while the logistics sector has made substantial progress in innovation, infrastructure, and technology, its financial returns and profitability have often fallen short of expectations. The challenge lies in the varied performance of subsegments such as express delivery, e-commerce logistics, and contract logistics. Each of these subsegments faces distinct challenges, influenced by factors such as market demand, regulatory policies, technological integration, and investment levels, leading to diverse outcomes across the sector. India's transportation sector is predominantly road-based, with nearly two-thirds of the market share. Among road logistics, Full Truck Load (FTL) remains highly fragmented, with a minimal presence of organised players. While the market has nearly doubled over the last decade, along with technology adoption in fleet and transport management, startups like Blackbuck have made attempts to drive the sector toward organisation, but no significant breakthroughs have emerged. As a result, FTL has struggled to create substantial value for customers, and profitability within the segment has remained stagnant. The second major segment in road logistics is Part Truck Load (PTL) services, where organised players have made gradual improvements. Companies like VRL and V-Trans India have established a national presence, supported by relevant infrastructure and technology. These organised players have delivered tangible value to customers, improving profitability alongside revenue growth through a cost-conscious approach. Rail logistics, on the other hand, has created significant value in specific subsegments, such as container train operators, private rail operators, and car carriers. While Indian Railways remains the primary infrastructure provider, private players like Adani, DP World, Gateway Distriparks, and Pristine have experienced profitable growth over the past decade. E-commerce logistics has been the most hyped segment in the last ten years. While e-commerce logistics started gaining traction in 2010, it exploded in 2014 with technological advancements and the emergence of new-age companies. This segment has grown into a US$6 billion market, creating immense value by reducing transit times, improving customer service, and offering tech-driven solutions. However, as these differentiators become industry standards, the rate of value creation has slowed. Despite significant investments to achieve profitability, most e-commerce companies are still either EBITDA-negative or marginally positive. While they have made strides in reducing losses, profitability remains below industry benchmarks. The express logistics segment, largely controlled by organised players, has also experienced incremental improvements in service offerings and customer service. Despite challenges such as declining document volumes, slow air cargo growth, and cost pressures, express logistics has achieved double-digit growth. However, the segment has failed to create significant new value, as many differentiators have now become standard offerings. This inability to create and capture value raises concerns for the future of express logistics. In contrast, the contract logistics segment has benefited from complex global supply chains and the post-GST momentum, providing significant opportunities for value creation through optimisation. Organised players, with their advanced solutions, technology, and automation, have been able to capture substantial value in this segment. Overall, while the logistics industry has created value across most of its segments, the ability to capture this value has been suboptimal. Factors such as technological advancements, sustainability trends, and evolving customer expectations will continue to influence value creation. However, value capture will hinge on effective pricing strategies, market positioning, and operational scalability. In the future, a balance between continuous innovation and profitability will be essential for long-term success in the logistics industry. Author: Vikash Khatri, Founder, Aviral Consulting
The 13th edition of the India Warehousing Show (IWS), slated for July 11th to 13th, 2024, at the Yashobhoomi, India International Convention & Expo Centre (IICC) in Dwarka, New Delhi, promises to be a pivotal event for warehousing, material handling, logistics, automation, and supply chain professionals. Organised by RX India, IWS continues to be a cornerstone event, uniting the entire industry under one roof. Highlighting the event will be a special address by Shri Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary Logistics & Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. His insights into India's evolving logistics landscape will underscore government initiatives aimed at enhancing sector efficiency and competitiveness, aligning with the theme "Streamlining Tomorrow: Transforming Supply Chains through Automation." Mr. Umang Gupta, Country General Manager, RX India, emphasised the event's significance, stating, "With the warehousing & logistics sector's critical role in the national economy, collaboration across the economic value chain and technological advancements are crucial for growth. Over the decade, India Warehousing Show has emerged as the flagship event connecting policy makers, technology companies, and infrastructure customers." Featuring more than 250 exhibitors, IWS will showcase the latest technological advancements and live product demonstrations from leading national and international companies in storage, transportation, and logistics solutions. The event will also host expert-led panel discussions, industry talk shows, and networking sessions with industry leaders. Topics will range from the National Logistics Policy and optimizing logistical costs to AI, Industry 4.0, sustainability in logistics, and the impact of e-commerce and Q-commerce on consumer experiences. The Yashobhoomi venue, renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities and expansive space, promises an ideal environment for industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and drive innovation in logistics and supply chain management.
Mahindra Logistics presents ET NOW Supply Chain Management and Logistics Summit 2024, Strategic Partner Oracle and Co-presented by DTDC Express, promises to be a beacon of transformative discourse, steering the conversation towards building a resilient supply chain ecosystem capable of navigating the complexities of the modern global economy. With advancements in AI, data analytics, and automation, supply chains have undergone a rapid evolution, becoming indispensable for ensuring the seamless flow of goods and maintaining the competitiveness of stakeholders worldwide. This evolution underscores the need for adaptability to change, as supply chain professionals take the lead in innovating sustainable practices to shape the future landscapes of commerce and trade. Scheduled for June 28th at Taj Palace, New Delhi, the summit aims to convene industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to explore, exchange insights, and chart a course towards a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient supply chain ecosystem. The event will feature engaging discussions, expert-led masterclasses, an expo showcasing transformative solutions, and awards celebrating outstanding organisations. Among the critical themes to be discussed are the future of digital supply chains and the transformative role of automation in reshaping the industry. With over 100 leading supply chain heads expected to participate, the summit provides a unique platform for knowledge sharing and networking. The summit also aligns with India's commitment to transforming its trade landscape and achieving global leadership through world-class infrastructure, institutional reform, and sustainable practices. By fostering collaboration and innovation, the event aims to drive positive change and propel the industry towards a brighter future. As the world continues to evolve, the ET NOW Supply Chain Management and Logistics Summit 2024 stands as a testament to the industry's resilience and determination to overcome challenges, ultimately forging a path towards a more efficient, transparent, and sustainable supply chain ecosystem.
Surecom Media organised PROCARGOCONNECT 2022,the ‘first-of-its-kind’ conference, mainly revolving around the sector of Project Cargo and Logistics Management. Pioneering a new saga and legacy of conferences, PROCARGOCONNECT 2022 that convened on August 25, 2022 at The Westin Mumbai Garden City, attracted an audience of 150+ specialised logistics and projects professionals, which included several eminent personalities belonging to government-owned corporations as well as from the private sector, mainly from heavy engineering companies, components and process equipment manufacturers, industrial projects and EPC companies that majorly use the modes of transport steering and fulfiling the crucial demand for procurement and installing of over-dimensional and overweight consignments at the sites. The conference witnessed six multifarious extensively informative panel discussions, which proved to be extremely engaging with steaming debates and discussions, brewing in continuum. At the outset, Ajeet Kumar, Director, Surecom Media, in his opening remarks welcomed the delegates and introduced them to the kind of discussions the conference would unfurl through the day, thereby setting a definite context for relevance and updation of information. Eminent leaders and sector experts both from the service user and provider side gathered around to light the lamp and marked an auspicious beginning to the eventful day ahead. The chief guest for the event, Pradeep Dongre, Associate Director (Contracts and Materials Management), Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), addressed the most dominant issues and elaborated on the degree and severity of impact with facts and figures. The 1st panel discussion revolved around ‘Demand and Supply, Trends and Expectations shaping the EPC Industry’. This panel specifically discussed the impact of emerging markets – where volumes will come from; the outlook for the EPC sector; the key driver for the project cargo market; future forecasting, developing innovations, new operational designs and service readiness. The deliberations touched upon the activities that need to be done by the core companies and the ones that need outsourcing. The demand “from India”, i.e. the resources that India provides globally – solar energy and wind energy and their states of readiness, in terms of logistics and supply chain management capabilities making these sectors equipped for increasing exports, were discussed. Moreover, collaboration from all the associated sectors will fill the gaps which continue to glare at us, despite the various innovative initiatives of the government. Shashi Kant Misra, Lead- SCM & Logistics, L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering rightly questioned the limitations and doubts that the user industry is facing, even after claiming that they have handed over the project to reliable partners. “Why don’t companies depend completely on the channel partners and why do they feel a need to send their men to the site for such a considerable period of time?”. Subsequently, Hardik Lalani,Deputy General Manager- Procurement, Kalpataru Power Transmission; Mukesh Nandan Jha, Head- Procurement - Substations (GIS/AIS), KEC International; Anand Iyer, Head- Corporate EXIM and Commercial, Thermax Global; and Nitesh Shinde, Manager- SCM, Primetals Technologies chimed in, in unison, to collectively claim that the need for trust on project partners is what determines the prerequisite for an ideal industry, setting benchmarks for the future. The panel, through its riveting dialogue, opened up new ways of thinking, gelling in thoughts of procurement professionals, supply chain management experts and corporate heads for trade and commerce activities. The panelists were felicitated by Rajesh Gupta, Managing Director, Premier Global Logistics. Taking the blow-by-blow account ahead, the 2nd panel took in its stride to discuss on the highly common and yet brimming-with-newness dialectical concept of ‘Capacity versus Cost – How to navigate transportation challenges in the post-COVID environment’, which brought to the fore some very interesting insights on how to work together with a perfectly aligned understanding of what can be delivered in the new normal and how to adapt to the shifts and changes, transforming the conventional work methodologies. The pandemic, not surprisingly, cropped up as a major anchor of the discussion since the cost-fluctuation and disruption that the market witnessed due to the catastrophic outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingers like a nightmare, inflicting great damage to the profit margins of businesses. Bibhudendra Maharana, Head- Logistics Center of Excellence, GE India Industrial says that there is a need to look at things from a new angle, what best can be done differently, how to come out of the disputes. “Plannings, which has been so difficult to manage, have still been implemented all across the nation. Having a proper forecast will help quell the challenges and we need to work better, towards that.” P V S Nageswara Rao, Director and CEO, Mechtrotech Projects highlighted how the pandemic changed the entire pattern of life of any business. “Sending engineers too on the project is one of the many changes or new developments that have become an example of how a pandemic has changed the project logistics industry.” Amandeep Singh, Director, Techno Process Equipment India said that their focus on the areas from where they source their raw materials, on inventory management – how they pushed for tie ups between logistics companies to enable more cost competitiveness. Pavithran M Kallada, Managing Director- India, BDP UGL Global Logistics, who was the moderator for the panel, highlighted the scarcity of ocean containers and increasing charter prices. He put forward some enthralling questions to the panel as to how they have been able to answer not just their customers but also their vendors, rather business partners, with ingenuity, despite all such disruptions. In spite of all the challenges, the panelists agreed and echoed the fact that post-COVID, logistics companies, manufacturers have come together like never before and that is what will make up for resiliency in the coming times. Anup Nair, Projects Director – India, BDP UGL Global Logistics felicitated the speakers after the session concluded. As without hearing out the problems no industry can deliberate on recuperation measures to scale new heights, the 3rd panel session focussed particularly on the ‘Challenges faced by Project Cargo shippers and Service Providers’. The discussions proved to be extremely singular with its sharp dissection of intricacies involved in the highly complex web of cargo shipping that deals with an intense sieving off layers of costs, with an approach that is dedicated to adapt to new realities. Prospects like diverse onshore projects; drive towards renewable energy; decarbonising operations, all the while making the trade more collaborative and symbiotic, by sharing of capabilities were illuminated upon. Subesh Kumar, Chief General Manager (Inspection) and Head BO - Mumbai - SCM, Engineers India Ltd discussed the importance of alternative modes for logistics management of ODC cargo. Nailesh Gandhi, Direcotr, Express Global Logistics (EXG) emphasised on the significance of "listening" as a service provider. “Every engineer, every member should be a part of the entire on-ground team, should be a part of discussions, should be actively involved towards making a project achieve executional excellence in itself, by adhering to and doing what is desired of them.” Harsh Chheda, Director, Hirji Logipack in his deliberation touched upon the importance of packaging of products in determining the quality of the goods transported and adding value to the supply chain. “New design requirements have been added for packaging: on the one hand, to improve the differentiation capacity of the product, and on the other, to improve the efficiency of the product at every step of the transit process.” Jay Kumar Patro, Head- Logistics, Plasser India talked about the risk factors in designing and manufacturing that might cause the entire system to fall through. “Planning before the process initiates is the key to managing costs,” he emphasised. Being a part of the high-on-demand green energy sector, Vinod Kumar Vyas, Regional Logistics Leader - Hydro Project, GE Renewable Energy added on to the list of challenges and affirmed some already mentioned factors and assessments by the fellow panelists while stressing on the synergies that can be achieved by integrating systems and interfaces between evolving supply chains and its set of new customers. As the panel marked an end to some enlightening discussions, Ajit Menon, Business Advisor, Givven Logistics took to the stage to felicitate the speakers. The 4th panel kick-started with some in-depth analyses, followed by a gripping discussion on ‘Today’s global MPV, SPMT fleet, purpose-built vessels and their specifics – scalability and growth’ shedding light on the current state of multipurpose vessel fleet, RORO, purpose-built vessels, self-propelled modular transporters, electronic steer platform trailers, self-loading girder systems and roll-trailers, with a quest to comprehend what the future demands. Capt. Atul Sharma, Manager- Sales (Breakbulk & Projects), Höegh Autoliners India spoke about the new regulations of the maritime industry and the new changes after the outbreak of the pandemic. Ibrahim Khan, Chartering Manager (India and Middle East), dship Carriers taking cue from Sharma’s statement, highlighted the huge demand coming from the Wind Energy sector, which is taking a great share of the vessels present today. Shreyas Vyas, Vice President, Total Movements representing the SPMT perspective highlighted the need for investment in the sector to make that rare leap of faith and reliability at any circumstance and terrain. He said, it all depends, albeit, on the execution of the new projects lying in the pipeline. Vishal K Joshi, General Manager- Projects & Chartering, Om Freight Forwarders talked about how the risks and damages can be mitigated and avoided by aircraft charters. “Project Cargo is an out-of-the-box cargo and hence, every solution has to be tailor-made for the very specific challenges,” he added. Shashi Kant Misra, Lead- SCM & Logistics, L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering who also took to this technical panel talked about preventive steps that help in management of operations despite disruptions. “The lack of focus on SPMTs by Indian companies is one of the major issues,” he said. SPMTs, engineers, workers – there is a need to rope in more and more of these.” The panelists were felicitated by Sanjiv Garg, Managing Director, Pipavav Railway Corporation and Secretary General, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) - India. Digitisation is soon emerging as the necessary first step in the journey of modernisation, as embarked by businesses. Hence, the 5th Panel attracted significant attention with a stimulating conversation revolving around ‘Data Transparency and Visibility across the Value Chain System’. After all, companies should be capable of knowing what is happening upstream and downstream in the supply chain and supplier ecosystems and be equipped to effectively communicate this knowledge both internally and externally across the value chain. Ruchita Mishra, Director- Procurement and Supply Chain, ISS Facility Services India, the moderator for the panel, initiated the opening dialogue on data visibility and transparency and how data integration within and beyond ecosystems can benefit processes substantially. Pradeep Tewari, Head - Petchem SCM Operations, Reliance Industries and Mayur Karekar, Project Logistics Manager, Air Products India enlightened the audience about the information that is available due to the current infrastructure. Both presented various examples of how the pandemic affected logistics, where one process was accomplished but something or the other acted as a barrier to a finished result. Anand Iyer, Head- Corporate EXIM and Commercial, Thermax Global, who was also a part of the panel critically highlighted how fluid is data and that the focus should now shift on how to use it and leverage it to integrate processes. Amit Bhowmik, Cluster Head of Procurement - Southeast Asia, Linde India explained how the present situation has several opportunities in store, as now there are so many suppliers available for management of goods. “Firefighting”, he said, has definitely subsided to quite an extent. Daljit Singh Kohli, India Lead, Port of Antwerp-Bruges took to the dais to congratulate and felicitate the speakers. The 6th panel witnessed a new turn in the general direction of the discussion, as ideas poured scheming to bring in changes into the traditional patterns. The theme revolved around‘Cultivating Sector Leaders: identifying, upskilling, empowering the NextGen’. The panel delved into the mandates and requirements considering extensive up-gradation of processes and people in the EPC Industry, as well as cargo movers, while evolving alongside tech deployments, necessary to holistically equip the future of the sector. S Mahesh Mahalingam, Head- EXIM, L&T Construction and Gopi T, Chief Procurement Officer, Senvion cast light on the skills of workforce management through being the right coach and mentor, given the fact that there are three generations working under the same roof. Sanjiv Garg, Managing Director, Pipavav Railway Corporation and Secretary General, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) - India explained how the working conditions had to be changed for logistics workers, because of necessary human rights movements. “Only when these changes are made, will the logistics industry truly modernise,” he said. Gopinath Thube, Logistics Expert - Domestic and International, EPC Projects said that there has to be on-site experience when it comes to the projects sector. “Formulating analysis reports, implementing route surveys, etc. are highly region-specific and time-specific and hence, have to be conducted again and again. It is impossible to determine all the factors that intervene in the dynamics of the overall scheme of things.” The moderator for the panel Snehal Jain,Logistics Manager - LNC Canada Project (OSBL), Fluor annotated how young professionals need to be inspired by making them focus on far-reaching perspectives. “Logistics systems should change the environment, the rules and regulations of the game, so as to make everything progressive and not necessarily micromanaging.” Janesh Gulati, Managing Director, Total Movements felicitated the speakers as the session brought the curtain down with a fulfiled quest to grasp new lines of thought. Following that, Sanjiv Garg, Managing Director, Pipavav Railway Corporation and Secretary General, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) – India, took to the dais and offered a kind and heartfelt vote of thanks to the entire team of Surecom Media, for organising a highly distinguishable event. Ajeet Kumar, Director, Surecom Media felicitated the sponsors and partners – Express Global Logistics, Sarjak Container Lines, BDP International India, Givven Logistics, dship Carriers Germany, AVA Global, Balmer Lawrie, Industrial Freight Movers and Rhenus Logistics – with mementos, while extending a worthy note of gratitude for their contribution, leading to the huge success that PROCARGOCONNECT 2022 instated.
