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France is stepping up efforts to expand business partnerships with India's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), identifying healthcare, logistics, luxury retail, and construction as priority sectors for bilateral collaboration.
The initiative was outlined during an interactive session organised by the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), where representatives from the French Embassy in India, Business France and the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry discussed plans to increase the participation of French MSMEs in the Indian market and facilitate cross-border business partnerships.
Estelle David, Director-South Asia at Business France, said the agency's focus is on bringing more French MSMEs to India while promoting partnerships in high-growth industries. She highlighted healthcare, food and luxury retail as sectors offering significant opportunities for collaboration between businesses from the two countries.
French Consul General in Kolkata Thierry Morel said France remains committed to strengthening economic ties with India across manufacturing, clean energy, aerospace and digital technology. He also pointed to West Bengal's strategic location as a gateway to Southeast Asia, describing the state as well-positioned for investment in logistics, manufacturing and clean energy due to its skilled workforce and connectivity advantages.
Florent Mangin, Chief of Service for Economic Affairs at the French Embassy in India, said French officials are actively exploring investment and partnership opportunities in West Bengal. According to Mangin, sectors such as construction, logistics, agriculture and information technology are attracting growing interest from French businesses amid increasing confidence in the state's business environment.
The renewed push to strengthen MSME cooperation comes as India and France seek to broaden commercial engagement beyond large corporations by encouraging smaller enterprises to collaborate on technology, manufacturing, supply chains and market access. For the logistics sector, deeper Indo-French partnerships could support infrastructure development, supply chain modernisation and improved trade connectivity, particularly in eastern India, where West Bengal is emerging as a strategic logistics gateway for regional commerce.
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Avito Global has appointed Sushil Rathi as its Managing Director, marking a significant leadership addition as the company strengthens its position in the global supply chain and logistics sector. A seasoned industry professional with over four decades of experience across supply chain management, logistics, manufacturing, consulting, and business transformation, Rathi brings extensive leadership expertise to his new role. His appointment is expected to support Avito Global's strategic growth plans, operational excellence initiatives, and customer-centric expansion across domestic and international markets. Prior to joining Avito Global, Rathi served as Director at Allcargo Supply Chain Solutions Pvt. Ltd., where he contributed to the company's strategic direction and operational capabilities. Before that, he was Chief Executive Officer of LORDS Freight (India) Pvt. Ltd., leading the organization through business transformation and growth initiatives. Rathi is widely recognized for his long and impactful tenure at Mahindra Logistics Limited, where he spent over 12 years in leadership positions, including Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President (Supply Chain Management), and Vice President (SCM). During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in scaling integrated supply chain solutions, driving operational efficiency, and strengthening customer relationships across diverse industry verticals. Earlier in his career, he was a founding partner at Anantara Solutions Pvt. Ltd., where he focused on strategic consulting, process transformation, IT consulting, and manufacturing and retail solutions. He also held senior leadership positions at Satyam Computer Services, managing large consulting practices and enterprise transformation initiatives. Rathi began his professional journey with FIAT India, where he spent 15 years in progressive leadership roles, building a strong foundation in manufacturing and operations. In addition to his executive responsibilities, Rathi currently serves as an Independent Director on the boards of Welspun One Logistics Parks and Welspun One Logistics Parks Development Management Private Limited, reflecting his continued contribution to governance and strategic leadership within India's logistics ecosystem. His appointment as Managing Director of Avito Global underscores the company's commitment to strengthening leadership capabilities and accelerating innovation in supply chain management, contract logistics, warehousing, multimodal transportation, and integrated logistics solutions. With his deep industry expertise and proven track record of business transformation, Rathi is well positioned to lead Avito Global through its next phase of sustainable growth and value creation. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
FedEx has unveiled FedEx Life Sciences, a dedicated organization designed to address the growing complexity of global healthcare logistics and reinforce its position in one of the fastest-growing supply chain segments. The new business unit will provide specialized end-to-end logistics solutions for pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices, clinical trials, and other time- and temperature-sensitive healthcare shipments. The launch reflects the company's strategic focus on the rapidly evolving life sciences sector, where increasing demand for precision logistics, regulatory compliance, and real-time shipment visibility is reshaping supply chain requirements. By bringing together its existing healthcare capabilities under a single specialized organization, FedEx aims to offer customers a more integrated and streamlined logistics experience while supporting the next generation of healthcare delivery. Leading the new organization is Nick Gennari, who has been appointed President of FedEx Life Sciences. The dedicated team will oversee a comprehensive portfolio of healthcare logistics services, including cold chain transportation, inventory management, warehousing, packaging, customs support, and global distribution. The initiative is expected to help pharmaceutical manufacturers, biotechnology companies, hospitals, laboratories, and research organizations navigate increasingly complex global supply chains with greater efficiency and reliability. Healthcare has become a strategic growth area for FedEx as demand continues to rise for specialized transportation of temperature-controlled medicines, cell and gene therapies, vaccines, and clinical trial materials. The company has invested significantly in expanding its Life Science Centers, enhancing cold chain infrastructure, and securing internationally recognized certifications to ensure regulatory compliance across its global network. Today, a substantial share of its healthcare shipments moves through CEIV Pharma-certified facilities, strengthening shipment integrity for highly sensitive products. The new organization also reflects broader industry trends, with healthcare manufacturers increasingly seeking logistics partners capable of managing end-to-end supply chains rather than standalone transportation services. As personalized medicine, biologics, and advanced therapies continue to gain momentum, logistics providers are expected to play a more critical role in ensuring product quality, visibility, and timely delivery throughout the supply chain. By consolidating its healthcare expertise under FedEx Life Sciences, the company is positioning itself to capture greater opportunities in the high-value healthcare logistics market while supporting customers with specialized, technology-enabled solutions. The move further underscores the growing importance of resilient, compliant, and data-driven supply chains in delivering life-saving therapies to patients around the world. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
Indian logistics technology provider Kale Logistics Solutions has agreed to acquire Spanish port community systems specialist Portel, a move that strengthens the company's presence in Europe and broadens its reach across maritime trade and port digitisation markets. The transaction brings together Kale's cargo and logistics technology portfolio with Portel's established position in the European port sector. The acquisition is expected to expand Kale's access to customers across Spain and other European markets while adding expertise in port community systems and trade facilitation platforms. Portel has been active in the maritime technology sector for nearly three decades, providing digital solutions that connect ports, shipping lines, terminal operators, customs authorities and logistics stakeholders. The company has played a role in the digital transformation of Spanish port operations and has developed systems designed to improve information exchange across supply chains. For Kale, the deal represents a further step in its international growth strategy. The company has expanded its presence across airports, ports and logistics hubs in multiple regions and has identified Europe as a key market for future growth. In recent years, Kale has increased investment in international operations and technology platforms supporting cargo visibility, trade documentation and logistics collaboration. Industry observers note that the acquisition reflects broader consolidation trends in logistics technology, as software providers seek to offer integrated digital platforms covering multiple transport modes and supply chain processes. Growing regulatory requirements, cross-border trade complexity and demand for real-time data exchange have increased interest in digital infrastructure serving ports and logistics networks. The combined organisation is expected to focus on expanding digital services for port communities, freight stakeholders and government agencies involved in international trade. The transaction also provides Kale with a stronger operational base in Europe as demand for port and logistics digitalisation continues to grow across the region. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
