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.

sKart Global Express orchestrated a Partner Meet at the Hilton Mumbai International Airport Hotel on May 3rd, 2024. With a focus on unlocking untapped potential for business expansion and revenue generation, the event provided a platform for participants to delve into the myriad opportunities sKart offers. This collaborative effort aims to bolster the market share of sKart's partners and facilitate the attainment of strategic objectives both in the current year and beyond. The event commenced with context-setting and opening remarks by Mr. Rajiv Hariramani, Director of Skyways Group, followed by insights from Mr. Sanjeev Choudhary, CEO of sKart, who illuminated the partnership roadmap between sKart and its esteemed clientele. A highlight of the event was the engaging exhibition, offering an interactive space for participants to engage with experts across diverse products and services. Attendees had the opportunity to gain invaluable insights into the innovative solutions jointly developed by sKart and its partners, fostering a collaborative environment aimed at driving mutual success.

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.

sKart Global Express orchestrated a Partner Meet at the Hilton Mumbai International Airport Hotel on May 3rd, 2024. With a focus on unlocking untapped potential for business expansion and revenue generation, the event provided a platform for participants to delve into the myriad opportunities sKart offers. This collaborative effort aims to bolster the market share of sKart's partners and facilitate the attainment of strategic objectives both in the current year and beyond. The event commenced with context-setting and opening remarks by Mr. Rajiv Hariramani, Director of Skyways Group, followed by insights from Mr. Sanjeev Choudhary, CEO of sKart, who illuminated the partnership roadmap between sKart and its esteemed clientele. A highlight of the event was the engaging exhibition, offering an interactive space for participants to engage with experts across diverse products and services. Attendees had the opportunity to gain invaluable insights into the innovative solutions jointly developed by sKart and its partners, fostering a collaborative environment aimed at driving mutual success.

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) organised the Medical Devices, Pharma and Healthcare Summit on February 17, 2024, at its New Delhi headquarters PHD House, with the theme of Empowering Atmanirbhar Bharat: A Logistics Odyssey The summit aimed to bring together industry experts, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss advancements, challenges, and opportunities in the medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare sectors, fostering collaboration and innovation for the betterment of healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. It offered a diverse range of thematic sessions, attracting an impressive participation of over 30+ speakers, 10+ exhibitors, and 150+ delegates. Dr Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, logistical hurdles included workforce shortages, border closures, and unpredictable market conditions. "However, there were significant accomplishments, including improved communication networks, adaptable supply chain approaches, and the use of data analytics to enhance resource allocation, all of which facilitated the effective distribution of essential resources and support services," he noted. Former Secretary, DPIIT, N Sivasailam commended PHDCCI for being the pioneer industry body that swiftly initiated the necessary actions for transporting essential items within the first week of the COVID-19 lockdown. This proactive step set the precedent for others to follow in ensuring the smooth transportation of vital goods during the pandemic. "There were notable successes, including swift adoption of new technologies, collective problem-solving, and the rise of inventive solutions to ensure the prompt delivery of critical goods and services," Sivasailam highlighted. Sumit Duggal, Co-Chair, Retail, E-Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, PHDCCI in his opening remarks, emphasised the importance of addressing key themes and issues shaping the future of healthcare logistics in our country. He stressed the need to uphold principles of inclusivity and equity, highlighting that the country's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat should go beyond mere self-sufficiency to empower every individual and community, ensuring no one is left behind in our pursuit of progress and prosperity. In his address, Madu Lokan, Executive Director, The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) - APAC underscored the critical need for government authorities, industry bodies, and associations like TAPA to prioritise and implement global standards certification and best practices. "Through training and workshops, stakeholders can enhance the skills of the workforce to adapt to the evolving business landscape. This approach strengthens businesses and aligns with the shared goal of establishing a resilient, secure, and efficient supply chain for pharmaceuticals and medical devices," he emphasised. The summit in the Technical Sessions covered subjects such as:•Bringing the Pharma Supply Chain into the New Era alignment with Atmanirbhar Bharat•Combating Counterfeiting in the Pharma and Medical Devices Supply Chain•Innovative Cold Chain Solutions for Medical Devices Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare•Last-mile delivery and Patient-Centric Supply Chains•Data-Driven Procurement and Sourcing: Leveraging Analytics for Informed Decision-Making In its Fireside Chat Sessions, the summit covered subjects such as:•Quality Assurance in Pharma and Medical Devices - Then - Now - and the Way Forward•Insights into the logistical challenges and triumphs experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic The summit was moderated by Ajay Bansal, Senior Secretary, PHDCCI and sponsored by Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA - APAC), MOVIN Express and Icertis. Vipin Vohra, Co-Chair of Aviation Committee, PHDCCI and Chairman of Continental Carriers Group of Companies felicitated Dr Ahirwar and Sivasailam for convening the proceedings of the summit and extending their valuable insights and experiences to the attendees..

Hydraulic Trailer Owners Association (HTOA), the solo body representing Modular Hydraulic Trailer owners, serving the Transport industry for development of Infrastructure consisting of Over Dimensional/Overweight Consignments (ODC/OWC) conducted its 16th Annual General Meeting. Held on September 15, 2023 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, the Meeting was attended by majority of HTOA Members from across the country. The meeting was chaired by Jignesh J Patel, Immediate Past-Chairman, HTOA; and the entire event was steered by Nilesh Sinha, HTOA's General Secretary along with Basant Purohit, Ram Ratan Agarwal, Bharat Gandhi, Sameer Parekh, Rajesh Gupta, Manish Kataria, Sarabjit Singh, Nailesh Gandhi, H S Acharya, Madanlal Sharma, Zarksis Parabia, Shrenik Kataria as participant Board Members. Organised as part of the 16th AGM, HTOA members actively participated in the debate sessions on various challenges being encountered in ODC/ODC transportation pan-India and also had a virtual meeting with Defence officials. Eminent trade consultant, CA Manish Gadia also delivered a detailed presentation on GST for Goods Transport Agency and truck owners with focus on GST rules regulation, common misconception in understanding the rules, while responding to members queries. Towards the end of the AGM, Tarachandani, Election officer, HTOA announced the results of the election for the new Managing Committee for tenure 2023-25. The new committee now consists of 15 members with Sameer Parikh as Chairman; Zarksis Parabia as Vice Chairman; Suhas Labde as Joint Secretary; Nitin Kumar Singhal as Treasurer; and Nilesh Sinha continuing as General Secretary with Jignesh J Patel, Bharat Gandhi, Rajesh Gupta, Manish Kataria, Sarabjit Singh, Nailesh Gandhi, HS Acharya, Shrenik Kataria, Pawan Jain, and Roshanlal Balothia sworn as managing committee members. The event was graced by Amrit Lal Madan, President, All India Motor Transport Congress (AITMC), Bal Malkit Singh, Chairman of Core Committee, AIMTC, and prominent logistics veterans in heavy-lift transportation.

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.

Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex body of the automobile industry, organised the 8th SIAM conclave themed ‘Automotive Logistics: Transitioning towards a Sustainable Future’. With the focus on exploring new frontiers for transportation of vehicles, in the view of the ever-changing business environment and on improving logistics operations involving automobiles, coveted speakers which included senior government officials, logistics heads of automobile companies, and experts from the automobile supply chain deciphered the myriad ways —sustainable packaging, optimisation of routes, deploying waterways to take a substantial volume of vehicle logistics off the roads, digitalisation and lot more. The conclave was divided into four sessions – “Leveraging Technology for Enhancing Road Transport Efficiency”, “Railways – The Road Ahead”, “Waterways – The New Frontier”, “Role of Multi-Modal Logistics Parks in Automobile Transportation”, along with a “Special Plenary Session: Path Ahead”. Shedding light on the key elements in session 1, Rakesh K Sen, Co-Chairman SIAM Logistics Group and Vice President, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “The two factors that matter the most are Operations need to ensure reduced logistics cost, time and innovation is imperative in the ecosystem. Moving forward, sustainability is the need of the hour, and everyone needs to adopt sustainable ways.” RS Kapoor, Senior Adviser, Maruti Suzuki said, “The automotive industry is evolving and is actively taking steps towards accomplishing sustainability. Sustainable operations, collaborations and emerging technology can further revamp the sector.” Session 2 centered around the subject “Railways”, as one of the future solutions for logistics across India. Mudit Chandra, Executive Director (Freight Marketing), Railway Board said, “The average speed of Railways has now improved. During the lockdown, Indian Railways had also focussed on capacity enhancement. Although the availability of terminals is a major hindrance at the moment, new policies are coming in and we will see positive change in the coming year and a half.” Session 3 panellists elaborated about Gati Shakti as an important step towards upgrading national infrastructure and multimodal connectivity, concurrently fuelling inland waterways services, while session 4 assessed India’s forward movement in developing infrastructure and creating new MMLPs across each state for increasing the efficiency of automotive supply chains, ultimately aiding manufacturing. Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India said, “We are handling 2% of the current modal share of inland water transport with a target of achieving 5% by 2030 and 7% by 2047. More vessels will be added that will make inland water transport more economical for operations.” Sanjeev Patil, Vice President (Logistics), National Highway Logistics Management said, “We are working with our partners to develop 35 future-ready multimodal logistics parks across India, which can be increased to 70 as per the industry’s demand. The Bharatmala and Gati Shakti schemes have given a strong foundation to the future of MMLPs.”

India Warehousing Show (IWS), the country’s leading platform for logistics and warehousing, material handling and supply chain automation took place from August 19-21, 2022 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Welcoming approximately 215 exhibitors and 13,372 visiting professionals along with 152 delegates from all over India, the 11th edition of IWS 2022 lived up to its legacy with numerous live product demos, product launches, innovative technologies on display, and several knowledge-sharing and insightful networking sessions. The trade fair and exhibition was inaugurated by Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Hon'ble Minister of State, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India and Dr Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India who resonated with the sentiments of the sector. Concurrent networking conference, India Warehousing Summit focussing on the theme ‘Sustainable and Cost-Effective Supply Chains’ took place on  the first and second day of the event. Around 70 speakers from top companies like Amazon, Google, Abbott, Biocon, Haldiram, Coca Cola, KFC, Big Basket, Honda, DHL, Amway, Raymond, IBM, TVS, JK Cement, Zappfresh, Delhivery, Agarwal Packers and Movers, and Ericsson elaborated and discussed on the challenging issues. The 11th edition saw industry bigwigs like Gandhi Automation, Nido Automation, Kelley India, Pragati, DP World and Stellium as sponsor partners. Making the most of the event, companies like Jungheinrich, J S Tiger Thermal Insulation and Zebra Technologies sold their machines and services. Adding the right buzz on the show floor, top solutions providers such as Addverb, Muvro, Atmos, ACE, Clear Pack, Zebra, Lynkit and Newland AIDC launched new products and advanced technologies. Moreover, leading players including many big names such as Gandhi Automation, Nido Automation, Kelley India, Pragati, DP World, Stellium, Aerolam Insulations, Craftsman Automation, Armstrong Dematic, Nilkamal, Cold Steel Corporation, Addverb Techonologies, Godrej & Boyce, Godrej Koerber Supply Chain, Xtreme Cooler, Action Construction, Cognex Sensors India, Nord Drivesystems, Pepperl+Fuchs, Zebra Technologies, Allcargo Logistics, Safexpress, BYD India, ATS Conveyors, AmbaFlex Asia Pacific BV, Shakti Hormann, Liftking Manufacturing Corporation, Kengic Intelligent Equipment, Newland AIDC, Yugal Concrete Floors, Fuji Yusoki Kogyo, Impact Floors, Kirby Building Systems and Structures displayed top solutions that are the way forward for a robust supply chain.

The 24th Biennial Convention of the Federation of Freight Forwarders in India (FFFAI) held from August 12-14, in Chennai, registered participation of more than 700 delegates’ consisting of members from 28 member associations across the country, logistics industry stakeholders, and government representatives. The inauguration function was addressed by Amrit Lal Meena, Special Secretary (Logistics), Ministry of Commerce (through a video link); Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH; Shankar Shinde, Chairman, FFFAI; AV Vijayakumar, Convenor and Immediate Past Chairman, FFFAI; Shashi Kiran Shetty, CMD, Allcargo Logistics; Niraj Ambani, Group President- Supply Chain, Reliance Industries; Dr Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, World Customs Organisation (WCO); Dr Ivan Petrov, President, FIATA; and Dushyant Mulani, Chairman-Elect, FFFAI. Welcoming the dignitaries and delegates, FFFAI Chairman Shankar Shinde put utmost importance of the fast-changing scenario of the logistics industry across the globe due to the digital disruption and its obvious impact on the same. Shinde stated that logistics professionals will have to seize the opportunity for their survival and growth by adopting smart technologies for a way forward. In his speech, Amrit Lal Meena highlighted the crucial role being played by the customs brokers, freight forwarders, and logistics service providers to streamline the manufacturing and EXIM trade in the country. He assured full support from the government to this sector through various forward looking and industry-friendly initiatives like PM Gati Shakti. Sarbananda Sonowal, after announcing the Business Sessions on August 13, introduced the much-awaited FIATA Bill of Lading (eFBL) for India’s freight forwarders. The Shipping Minister stressed upon the growing importance of an IT-driven logistics industry for faster movement of cargo from manufactures to consumers across the globe and added that FFFAI’s initiatives in this regard through services like eFBL would make Indian products to reach out global markets with reduced transaction times and costs, in turn making Indian products competitive in international markets. On the second day of the event, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari while addressing the convention (through a video link from Nagpur) urged the logistics industry to go green by using alternative fuel like LNG and ethanol. Gadkari stated, “Customs Brokers, Freight Forwarders and other logistics service providers are the major stakeholders behind the success of increasing international trade in the country.” He commended FFFAI for choosing the theme of the convention: “Logistics – Reshape, Embrace and Surge in the Digital Era”, which is in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision pertaining to “PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan” focussed on strengthening multimodal logistics infrastructure and transportation. The theme is also apt to achieve the Prime Minister’s goal of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ as the event was on the eve of celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. The convention ended on a high note with a motivational address by Chief Guest of the Valedictory Session Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Tourism. Recognising FFFAI as one of the most effective industry organisations which has been connected with the minister for about two decades, he reiterated full support to the customs brokers fraternity, freight forwarding and logistics industry causes to address and resolve, as he did it in the past pertaining to issues on registration of CBLR. The minister urged FFFAI Members to focus on expanding their capabilities beyond customs clearance to include other services. “This will be step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat which will be crucial for national economy,” he emphasised.