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CEVA Logistics has expanded its presence in West Africa through a new joint venture with EFL Africa, a leading Nigerian logistics company. The newly established entity, CEVA EFL Limited, is expected to enhance logistics connectivity across Nigeria and provide customers with greater access to international supply chain networks.
The partnership brings together CEVA Logistics’ extensive global reach and end-to-end logistics capabilities with EFL Africa’s established local infrastructure and market expertise. The move underscores the growing importance of Nigeria as a strategic logistics hub and gateway to West Africa, a region experiencing increasing trade activity and supply chain investments.
Through the joint venture, businesses operating in Nigeria will gain access to a broader portfolio of integrated logistics services, including freight forwarding, transportation, customs brokerage, warehousing and inland logistics solutions. By combining local market knowledge with international logistics capabilities, CEVA EFL aims to address longstanding operational challenges while improving supply chain efficiency for customers across the region.
A key feature of the new operation is its dedicated barge transportation service designed to move containers between Lagos ports and Inland Container Depots (ICDs). The initiative is expected to reduce reliance on congested road networks, shorten transit times and improve cargo flow in one of Africa’s busiest logistics corridors. The venture will also leverage approximately 140,000 square metres of ICD infrastructure located in Ikorodu and Apapa, including an Export Processing Terminal that supports import and export activities.
In addition, CEVA EFL will provide customs clearance services through an in-house licensed team, enabling faster cargo processing and greater visibility throughout the supply chain. Industry observers view the development as a significant step toward modernising logistics operations in Nigeria while strengthening the country’s role in regional trade.
The joint venture is also expected to support knowledge transfer and workforce development by combining global best practices with local operational expertise. Executives from both organisations have highlighted the partnership’s potential to create more resilient and customer-focused logistics solutions while contributing to economic growth in Nigeria and the wider West African market.
As supply chains continue to evolve across Africa, the launch of CEVA EFL reflects a broader trend of international logistics providers investing in strategic regional partnerships to strengthen market access, improve infrastructure utilisation and support cross-border trade growth.
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Flipkart has expanded the scope of its logistics business by opening its supply chain arm, Ekart, to external businesses, allowing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, manufacturers and large enterprises to use its nationwide logistics infrastructure. The move marks a broader push by the e-commerce company to grow its business-to-business logistics operations beyond servicing its own marketplace. Under the new model, businesses can access Ekart's transportation, warehousing and fulfilment services without being part of the Flipkart ecosystem. The company has also introduced a franchise-based logistics network that currently operates through more than 300 outlets across cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Surat. Flipkart plans to expand this network to over 1,000 outlets by the end of 2026. The expansion is aimed at enabling smaller businesses to leverage an established national logistics network instead of investing in their own distribution infrastructure. In addition to freight movement and last-mile delivery, participating businesses will gain access to Ekart's warehousing facilities and technology platform to manage inventory, fulfilment and shipment tracking. The development reflects the increasing trend of e-commerce companies commercialising their in-house logistics capabilities as standalone service offerings. India's growing D2C ecosystem, coupled with rising demand for integrated supply chain solutions, has created new opportunities for logistics providers offering nationwide fulfilment, transportation and warehouse management services. Ekart has gradually expanded its third-party logistics portfolio in recent years through services such as warehousing, business-to-business transportation and integration with digital commerce platforms. The latest initiative further broadens its addressable customer base by making its end-to-end logistics network available to businesses across sectors. The company said the expanded network is designed to support businesses of varying sizes by providing access to nationwide logistics infrastructure, allowing them to focus on product development and market expansion while outsourcing supply chain operations. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
The Ministry of Railways has approved the appointment of Ajit Kumar Panda as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR). The appointment was cleared by the Competent Authority through an order dated June 29, 2026, and will take effect when Panda assumes office on or after August 1, 2026. According to the company, Panda's tenure will continue until August 31, 2028, the date of his superannuation, or until further government orders, whichever comes earlier. He will serve in the ₹2,00,000–3,70,000 (IDA) pay scale. CONCOR also stated that the remaining statutory formalities under the Companies Act, 2013, and the SEBI Listing Regulations are currently being completed, with the necessary disclosures to be filed with the stock exchanges in due course. Currently serving as Director (Projects & Services) at CONCOR, Panda was recommended for the top position by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) in April 2026 following a competitive selection process involving senior executives from the railways, infrastructure and logistics sectors. Panda brings decades of experience in rail infrastructure, freight transportation and project execution. Before joining CONCOR, he worked as Executive Director (Mechanical Engineering and Project Planning & Development) at Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). During his career in Indian Railways, he has also held several key positions, including Director (Production Units and Efficiency & Research) at the Railway Board and Chief Workshop Manager at East Coast Railway's Mancheswar Workshop. He has additionally served in multiple leadership roles under South Eastern Railway. His professional experience extends beyond railway operations. Panda has represented the rail sector on the boards of several special purpose vehicle companies, including Haridaspur Paradip Railway Company Limited, Angul Sukinda Railway Limited, Kutch Railway Company Limited, and Krishnapatnam Railway Company Limited, contributing to the development of critical rail connectivity projects. The selection followed a competitive PESB process drawing from senior executives across logistics, railways, infrastructure and government — a reminder of the depth of talent India’s public sector logistics ecosystem has built. The leadership transition comes at a time when CONCOR is navigating a challenging business environment. For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, the company reported a 12.38% year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit to ₹262.65 crore, while revenue from operations slipped 1.1% to ₹2,263.30 crore. Industry observers expect Panda's extensive operational experience in multimodal logistics and rail freight infrastructure to play a significant role in driving the company's next phase of growth and modernization.
India has launched its first permanent research institution focused exclusively on the economics of transportation, mobility and logistics, marking a new step in the government's efforts to strengthen data-driven infrastructure planning and freight policy. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) have signed an agreement to establish the NHAI Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics. The facility will operate from NCAER and serve as an independent platform for research on transport networks, freight movement, mobility systems and logistics efficiency. The centre is expected to support policymakers with economic analysis related to highway development, freight logistics, multimodal transport integration and infrastructure investment. Research findings will be used to inform long-term planning and decision-making across the road transport sector. According to officials, the institution will examine issues including highway economics, tolling frameworks, asset monetisation, road safety, technology adoption and the broader economic impact of transport infrastructure projects. The research agenda will also cover logistics performance and connectivity challenges affecting supply chains. NHAI will provide long-term support for the initiative, while NCAER will lead research activities and engage with academic institutions, industry stakeholders and policy experts. An advisory structure comprising economists, transportation specialists and public policy professionals will guide the centre's work. Beyond academic research, the centre is expected to publish policy papers, industry reports and analytical studies aimed at government agencies and infrastructure planners. It will also host consultations and knowledge-sharing programmes focused on transportation and logistics policy. The launch comes as India continues to expand its national highway network and invest in logistics infrastructure to reduce freight costs, improve supply chain efficiency and support economic growth. Industry observers view the creation of a dedicated transport economics research institution as a move toward more evidence-based policymaking in one of the country's fastest-growing infrastructure sectors. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
