Goyal chairs Inter-Ministerial meeting to address rising freight cost, shipping delays, shortage & non-availability of containers and congestion at the ports
NEW DELHI: An interministerial meeting was held in New Delhi under t
U n i o n M i n i s t e r o f Commerce & Industry, S h r i P i y u s h G o y a l to address rising freight cost, shipping delays, shortage & non-availability of containers and congestion at the ports leading to difficulties being faced by exporters and adverse impact on the trade.
Asyad Group solidifies its Leadership as a major force
in Global Supply Chains
MUSCAT: Asyad Group, Oman's global integrated logistics provider, takes center stage at the Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress 2024 held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on the 18th and 19th of September
While the GCC solidifies its status as a critical regional powerhouse and hub in global logistics, Asyad Group is poised to showcase its world class assets, strategically located ports, and cutting-edge integrated ... Cont’d. Pg. 10
NEW DELHI : DLF Tower A, 1201-1202, 12th Floor, Jasola District Center, Jasola, New Delhi 110 025. Tel: +91 11 4312 1700 | Fax: +91 11 4312 1701 | Email : del@ekmtc.com
MUNDRA/GANDHIDHAM : Rabindranath Tagore Road, Plot No. 335 I and II Floor, Sector 1A, Near Olso Circle, Gandhidham, District : Kutch Gujarat 370 201. Tel: +91 2836 237011 | Email : gdm@ekmtc.com
HAZIRA/SURAT : 308, 3rd Floor, White Orchid, L. P. Savani Road, Adajan, Surat, Gujarat 395 009. Tel: +91 99040 03614 | Email : sur@ekmtc.com
AHMEDABAD : Sakar-IX, 1202-B, Beside Old Reserve Bank of India, Near City Gold, Ashram Road, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380 009. Tel: +91 79 48967003 | Email :amd@ekmtc.com
CHENNAI : Chaithanya Imperial, Block A, 2nd Floor, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai 600 018. Tel: +91 44 6067700 | Email: maa@ekmtc.com
Tel: 033-2230
Asyad Group solidifies its Leadership as a major force in Global Supply Chains
• ASYAD Group Amplifies Strategic Regional Presence and Global Integrated Logistics Leadership at Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress 2024
• Affirming its status as MENA’s fourth-largest logistics powerhouse, Asyad Group presents an extensive portfolio, comprising operations in the US, China, Singapore, India, and the GCC, including offices in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
• The event will highlight the collective capabilities of Asyad Group, including Asyad Shipping, Ports of Sohar, Salalah, and Duqm, Asyad Drydock, and Asyad Logistics, under a unified platform.
Cont’d. from Pg. 3
... global logistics through its unparalleled multimodal solutions and a network of active operations in key trade hubs like China, India, the USA, and the GCC, including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
A diverse portfolio that includes three deep seaports, three free zones, an economic zone, and a dry port, combined with its integrated logistics that comprise shipping, freight forwarding, transportation and warehousing services, and a state-of-the-art fulfillment center supported by last-mile delivery service, positions Asyad as a trusted partner for businesses seeking efficient and reliable transportation and supply chain solutions.
“This Congress is more than an event; it serves as a vital nexus where decision-makers, innovators, and stakeholders in the logistics and maritime sectors converge to explore new frontiers and shape the future of global trade. With the GCC accounting for 30% of the world’s container traffic, the region plays a critical role in steering the intricacies of today’s logistics landscape Asyad Group's participation highlights our dedication to advancing innovation, building strategic alliances, and fostering sustainable growth within the sector," said Ahmed Al Bulushi, Chief Executive Asset Management.
During the congress, Essam AL Sheibany, VP Sustainability at Asyad Group, will take part as a distinguished panelist in a session titled "Energy Transition for a Sustainable Future" and will discuss the advancement of eco-friendly initiatives in the logistics
sector, setting new standards for sustainable maritime practice, and the use of alternative fuels in the region. The Congress will feature Dimitri van Eekelen, VP Commercial of SOHAR Port and Freezone, participating in the panel discussion "Interconnected Logistics & The Supply Chain of the Future." He will explore evolving cargo owner relationships, regional transshipment, and the impact of cargo handling on port and shipping. Additionally, Talal Al Barwani, Sales Manager of Asyad Drydock, will join the panel discussion titled "Shipbuilding and Repair." He will provide insights on how the ship newbuilding market is adapting to decarbonization and emerging technologies.
Visitors to the Congress will witness the extensive range of Asyad Group's core strengths, from advanced maritime operations and state-of-the-art technology to a robust logistics network that seamlessly integrates land, sea, and air across 6 continents.
DPA commences Cleanliness Drive as part of SwachhataHiSeva2024
GANDHIDHAM: As a part of SwachhataHiSeva2024, Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla commenced Cleanliness Drive joining hands with public in the august presence of Smt. Maltiben Maheshwari, Hon'ble MLA-Gandhidham, Shri Nandeesh Shukla,
The officials of Income Tax, MMD, GCCI, Gandhidham Municipality also joined the Cleanliness Drive of DPA with enthusiasm. All the officials/public undertook oath on this occasion to keep clean their work/nearby places. On this occasion plantation was also done by the dignitaries.
COSCO SHIPPING LINES (INDIA)
AIS Service
PMX Service
NORTH WEST INDIA SERVICES
PAKISTAN AND MUNDRA EXPRESS SERVICE
ASX Service
ARABIAN SEA EXPRESS
SOUTH INDIA SERVICES
TCX Service THAILAND CHENNAI EXPRESS
FCS Service FAR EAST CHENNAI SERVICE
IEX Service INDIA EUROPE EXPRESS SERVICE
Head Office - Mumbai :
Unit 802, B Wing, 8th Floor, Godrej Two, Pirojsha Nagar, Eastern Express Highway, Vikhroli (E), Mumbai, 400079, India
Stream Great Beauty Mitsutor 7,661 Bleached Hard Wood Tuna HPC Future ACT Infra Oman 32,800 T. Limestone
CJ-XV Kurushima DBC Japan 3,867/742/409 T.CRC/S.Bars/Prj Cargo INIXY124090794
Stream Kuwana DBC Japan 1,415/3,843 T.CRC/Pkgs(175/423 Pcs) INIXY124090804
Stream Nikolas D Dariya Shpg. South Africa 77,931 T. Coal
CJ-VI Wonderful SW DBC Malaysia 28,371 CBM P Logs
Stream Xenia Interocean Brazil 76,865 T. Sugar Bulk
CJ-IV ZX Glory Asia Shpg. 8,354/3,416/906 T. PVC Resin Bags/ INIXY124080695 Polyvinyl Chloride Bags/ Pkgs
LIQUID CARGO VESSELS
25/09 Bow Palladium GAC Shpg. Singapore 4,654 T. Chemicals
Stream Coral Pearl V Ocean 21,762 T. Methanol
Stream CNC Dream Samudra Saudi Arabia
30/09 DM Condor Samudra Singapore
OJ-II Ginga Saker GAC Shpg. Kuwait
Stream Hakone Galaxy GAC Shpg.
OJ-V JKT Miracle Scorpio Shpg. Jordan
OJ-IV No.2 Ocean Pioneer Samudra Korea
OJ-III Nordic Callao GAC Shpg.
26/09 Nordic Copenhagen GAC Shpg.
OJ-VII Nord Miyako Interocean Santos Brazil
25/09 Oriental Gerbera Allied Shpg.
24/09 Paramita Wilhelmsen Singapore
26/09 PVT Solana Interocean San Lorenzo
30/09 Seaways Hercules Interocean San Lorenzo
T. Chem In Bulk INIXY124090796
Chem In Bulk
T. Phos Acid
T. Chemicals
T. Chemicals
T. Chemicals
CDSBO In Bulk INIXY124090802
Chemicals
T. CDSBO
INIXY124090821
(PGI)
DP WORLD MUNDRA
Maersk
Tanjung,
Asyad Line Seabridge Marine Shangai, Ningbo, Shekou (FEX) TBA Asyad Line Seabridge Marine Haiphong, Laem Chabang, (IEX) TO LOAD FOR INDIAN SUB CONTINENT
In Port —/— Kmarin Azur 438W 4093267 Maersk Line Maersk India Tema, Lome, Abidjan (MW2 MEWA)
TBA Asyad Line Seabridge Marine Karachi (REX)
(NWX)
CONTAINER VESSELS DUE / IN PORT FOR IMPORT DISCHARGE
ADANI MUNDRA CONTAINER TERMINAL (AMCT)
ADANI INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER
TERMINAL PVT LTD. (AICT)
PIPAVAV PORT
27/09 26/09-1800 Maersk Chicago 438W 24309 Maersk Line Maersk India Algeciras
04/10 03/10-1800 Maersk Kinloss 439W 24317
TO LOAD FOR FAR EAST, CHINA, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, NEW
ZEALAND
In Port —/— Cap Andreas 014E 24307 X-Press Feeders Merchant Shpg. Port Kelang, Singapore, Laem Chabang. 23/09 25/09 25/09-0900 X-Press Anglesey 24032E 24313 ONE ONE (India) (TIP) 26/09 06/10 06/10-1000 MOL Presence 017E 24320 07/10 24/09 23/09-2300 One Contribution 058E 24308 ONE ONE (India) Port Kelang, Singapore, Haiphong, Cai Mep, Pusan, Shahghai, 25/09 01/10 01/10-1100 Seaspan Adonis 076E HMM / YML HMM(I) / YML(I) Ningbo, Shekou (PS3) 02/10 26/09 26/09-0200 X-Press Carina 24039E 24311 Maersk Line Maersk India Singapore, Dalian, Xingang, Qingdao, Busan, Kwangyang, 27/09 06/10 06/10-0200 X-Press Cassiopeia 24040E 24318 X-Press Feeders Merchant Shpg. Ningbo, Tanjung Pelepas. (NWX) 07/10 Sinokor/Heung A Sinokor India Port kelang, Singapore, Qindao, Xingang, Pusan. 28/09 27/09-1800 OOCL Luxembourg 112E 24305 COSCO / OOCL COSCO Shpg./OOCL(I) Port Kelang, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xiamen, Shekou. 29/09 04/10 04/10-2100 Stratford 132E 24312 Gold Star / RCL Star Shpg/RCL Ag. (CIXA) 05/10 13/10 13/10-2100 Xin Da Yang Zhou 096E 24321 14/10 29/09 29/09-1400 Xin Ya Zhou 164E 24281 COSCO COSCO Shpg. Singapor Cai Mep, Hongkong, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, 30/09 Nansha, Port Kelang (CI1)
TO LOAD FOR WEST ASIA GULF, RED SEA & EAST AFRICAN PORTS 24/09 24/09-1700 Seaspan Jakarta 438W 24310 Maersk/GFS Maersk India/GFS Jabel Ali, Dammam (SHAEX)
27/09 26/09-1800 Maersk Chicago 438W 24309 Maersk Line Maersk India Salallah, Port Said, Djibouti, Jebel Ali, Port Qasim. (MECL) 28/09 TO LOAD FOR INDIAN SUB CONTINENT PORTS & COASTAL SERVICE
In Port —/— Cap Andreas 014E 24307 X-Press Feeders Merchant Shpg. Muhammad Bin Qasim, Karachi, Colombo.
25/09 25/09-0900 X-Press Anglesey 24032E 24313 ONE ONE (India) (TIP)
02/10 02/10-1200 SCI Chennai 2411 24316 SCI J M Baxi Mundra, Cochin, Tuticorine. (SMILE)
014E 24307 X-Press
SHIPPING
MOVEMENTS AT ADANI HAZIRA PORT
m.v. “MSC TIANJIN” Voy : QS438R I. G. M. NO. 2388603 DTD. 20-09-24
The above vessel has arrived on 22/09/2024 at MDPT (MUNDRA) with Import cargo from BATAM ISLAND, BELAWAN, SUMATRA, BUSAN, CALLAO, DA NANG, DALIAN, FUZHOU, GWANGYANG, HONG KONG, KEELUNG, KOBE JAPAN, LAEM CHABANG, NAGOYA JAPAN, NANSHA, NINGBO, OSAKA JAPAN,PALEMBANG, SUMATRA, PANJANG, PENANG, PORT KLANG (PELABUHAN KLANG), QINGDAO, QINZHOU, QUI NHON, SEMARANG, SHANGHAI, SHEKOU, SINGAPORE, TIANJINXINGANG, TOKYO JAPAN, VUNG TAU, XIAMEN, YANGON, YOKOHAMA JAPAN.
Please note the item Nos. against the B/L Nos. for MDPT (MUNDRA) delivery.
The above vessel has arrived on 22/09/2024 at MDPT (MUNDRA) with Import cargo from BATAM ISLAND, BELAWAN, SUMATRA, BUSAN, CALLAO, DA NANG, DALIAN, FUZHOU, GWANGYANG, HONG KONG, KEELUNG, KOBE JAPAN, LAEM CHABANG, NAGOYA JAPAN, NANSHA, NINGBO, OSAKA JAPAN,PALEMBANG, SUMATRA, PANJANG, PENANG, PORT KLANG (PELABUHAN KLANG), QINGDAO, QINZHOU, QUI NHON, SEMARANG, SHANGHAI, SHEKOU, SINGAPORE, TIANJINXINGANG, TOKYO JAPAN, VUNG TAU, XIAMEN, YANGON, YOKOHAMA JAPAN.
Please note the item Nos. against the B/L Nos. for MDPT (MUNDRA) delivery.
Piyush Goyal chairs Inter-Ministerial meeting to address rising freight cost, shipping delays, shortage & non-availability of containers and congestion at the ports
• Decisions taken by Shipping and Railways Ministries will bring down shipping costs: Shri Goyal
• Govt commi ed to improve availability of containers, faster evacua on of export consignments and reduce conges on at the ports: Shri Goyal
• Empty containers can be stored at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority for 90 days free of cost, Railways to reduce loading and handling charges: Shri Goyal
• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to buy five container ships to handle increased cargo
• Civil Avia on Ministry to work towards faster movement of air cargo
• Mul disciplinary help desk to be set up to support exporters: Shri Goyal
• Traffic delays near & around JNPA to be minimized to enhance export-related processes: Shri Goyal
• Simultaneous container scanning at JNPA for faster clearances & reduced turnaround me: Shri Goyal
Cont’d. from Pg. 3
Addressing the meeting, Shri Goyal said that the decisions taken by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ministry of Railways in the meeting will result in significantly breaking down shipping costs, improving availability of containers, resolving empty containers issue, faster evacuation of export consignments and reducing congestion at the ports.
The Union Minister announced that Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has decided to allow empty containers to be stored for a period of 90 days in the yard at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) free of cost and has also slashed the loading and handling charges significantly. Chairman and CEO, Railway Board, Shri Satish Kumar announced that the charges of Rs 3000 that is being levied beyond 90 days, is now reduced to Rs. 1500. Further, the storage and handling rates will be reduced for containers from Rs 9000 to Rs. 2000 (for a 40 ft container) and from Rs 6000 to Rs. 1000 (for a 20 ft container).
Commerce and Industry Minister urged all stakeholders to make concerted efforts to significantly mitigate the difficulties and address the issues faced by the exporters, effectively deploy multi-disciplinary capabilities and adopt ‘whole of the Government’ approach to ensure that no logistic difficulty is faced by the exporters. Due to the current geopolitical tensions, Red Sea Crisis, Houthi operations, ongoing wars and its impact on international trade there was a need to engage with a multidisciplinary team, he said.
The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) announced that they are chartering container ships to significantly increase the container capacities. It was announced that on an immediate basis, capacity will be enhanced by 9000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs). The SCI will also buy additional five container ships to further enhance cargo handling capacity. The Shipping Lines assured that all charges like container transportation and Lift on-Lift off at yards would be embedded in the delivery order given to shippers.
Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shipping, Shri T.K. Ramachandran announced that the port capacities have already been enhanced by 2.3 million TEUs. It was decided at the meeting that private container yards will have to mandatorily register themselves with GST authorities and that it would not accept any charges in cash in order to stop illegal profiteering arising out of shortage and delay.
Chairman, JNPT, Shri Unmesh Sharad Wagh assured that steps have already been taken to eliminate any congestion and bottlenecks To enhance export related processes, traffic delays near & around JNPA will be minimized and simultaneous container scanning at JNPA will be implemented for faster clearances & reduced turnaround time.
Civil Aviation Secretary announced that all efforts will be taken to ensure faster movement of air cargo and reduce turnover time.
Revenue Secretary, Shri Sanjay Malhotra said that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will ensure that custom clearances at the ports will be expedited by simultaneous screening two twenty feet containers.
In the meeting it was decided that to set up a multidisciplinary help desk to support exporters.
At the end of the meeting, the representatives of exporters led by Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) expressed satisfaction with the present availability of containers and expressed that the immediate steps being taken by the government would result in significantly easing the congestion, delay and freight hike and would enhance the space availability on the outgoing container ships.
In his concluding remarks, Shri Goyal said that the Government will continue to regularly monitor the situation with the next review is scheduled towards the end of October. Expressing satisfaction at the outcome of the meeting, Shri Goyal asserted that every department in the Government has contributed collectively to resolve the crises resulting in significant cut down of shipping costs, increasing availability of containers and expediting evacuation of export consignments reducing congestion at the ports.
The meeting was attended by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce & Industry today in New Delhi. Among the stakeholders, exporters & shippers (represented by FIEO), Container Corporation, Shipping Corporation of India, Freight forwarder association, transporters, ICD/CFS operators and private Shipping Lines were present.
The meeting was convened to discuss and resolve concerns and reports related to rising freight cost, shipping delays, shortage & non-availability of containers and congestion at the ports due to emerging geopolitical & economic scenario leading to difficulties being faced by exporters and adverse impact on the trade. Collectively, decisions were taken to promote a trust-based working environment for faster processing of cargo during exports.
NOTICE TO CONSIGNEES
The above vessel has arrived on 22/09/2024 at MDPT (MUNDRA) with Import cargo from BATAM ISLAND, BELAWAN, SUMATRA, BUSAN, CALLAO, DA NANG, DALIAN, FUZHOU, GWANGYANG, HONG KONG, KEELUNG, KOBE JAPAN, LAEM CHABANG, NAGOYA JAPAN, NANSHA, NINGBO, OSAKA JAPAN,PALEMBANG, SUMATRA, PANJANG, PENANG, PORT KLANG (PELABUHAN KLANG), QINGDAO, QINZHOU, QUI NHON, SEMARANG, SHANGHAI, SHEKOU, SINGAPORE, TIANJINXINGANG, TOKYO JAPAN, VUNG TAU, XIAMEN, YANGON, YOKOHAMA JAPAN.
Please note the item Nos. against the B/L Nos. for MDPT (MUNDRA) delivery.
MUNDRA
136 MEDUW0016313
157 MEDUW0107880
435 MEDUW0123770
536 MEDUW0132771 370 MEDUWC958396
678 MEDUX7506637
636 WSZ24080265 258 TMSE3090699
563 MEDUX9365644
MEDUX9386772
ASNB24090199
ASNB24080703
Consignees are requested to kindly note that the above item nos. are for the B/L Nos. arrived for MUNDRA delivery. Consignees are requested to collect Delivery Order for all imports delivered at MUNDRA from our Import Documentation Dept. at Office N307, 3rd Fl, New Port Users Bldg NO. 5-A-1 Navinal Island,Kutch - 370421on presentation of duly discharged Original Bill of Lading and payment of relevant charges.
The container detention charges will be applicable after standard free days from the discharge of containers meant for delivery at MUNDRA .
The containers meant for movement by road to inland destinations will be dispatched upon receipt of required documents from consignees/receivers and the consignees will be liable for payment of port storage charges in case of delay in submission of these documents. Our Surveyors are M/s. Zircon Marine Services Private Limited. and usual survey conditions will apply. Consignees are also requested to note that the carriers and their agents are not bound to send individual notification regarding the arrival of the vessel or the cargo.
In case of any query, kindly contact Import Customer Service - IN363-comm.mundra@msc.com; Get IGM No. / ITEM No. /CFS details on our 24 hrs computerized helpline No. (IVRS No.) 8169256872
You can also visit our website: msc.com/ind/help-centre/tools/import-general-manifest-information Invoices and Delivery order request must only be done in ODEX portal uploading all supporting documents As Agents :
MSC AGENCY (INDIA) PRIVATE LIMITED
Office N307, 3rd Fl, New Port Users Bldg NO. 5-A-1 Navinal Island, Kutch, Mundra - 370421, (INDIA) Tel. : +91 2838615501 . Telefax : +91 2838271003 email : IN363-comm.mundra@msc.com . Website : www.msc.com Corporate Identity Number : U63090MH2001PTC133288
NOTICE TO CONSIGNEES
The above vessel has arrived on 22/09/2024 at MDPT (MUNDRA) with Import cargo from ABU DHABI, BAHRAIN, GEMLIK,
MUNDRA
Consignees are requested to kindly note that the above item nos. are for the B/L Nos. arrived for MUNDRA delivery. Consignees are requested to collect Delivery Order for all imports delivered at MUNDRA from our Import Documentation Dept. at Office N307, 3rd Fl, New Port Users Bldg NO. 5-A-1 Navinal Island,Kutch - 370421on presentation of duly discharged Original Bill of Lading and payment of relevant charges.
The container detention charges will be applicable after standard free days from the discharge of containers meant for delivery at MUNDRA
The containers meant for movement by road to inland destinations will be dispatched upon receipt of required documents from consignees/receivers and the consignees will be liable for payment of port storage charges in case of delay in submission of these documents. Our Surveyors are M/s. Zircon Marine Services Private Limited. and usual survey conditions will apply. Consignees are also requested to note that the carriers and their agents are not bound to send individual notification regarding the arrival of the vessel or the cargo.
In case of any query, kindly contact Import Customer Service - IN363-comm.mundra@msc.com
Get IGM No. / ITEM No. /CFS details on our 24 hrs computerized helpline No. (IVRS No.) 8169256872
You can also visit our website: msc.com/ind/help-centre/tools/import-general-manifest-information Invoices and Delivery order request must only be done in ODEX portal uploading all supporting documents As
Surat plan to play key role in making Gujarat a
$3.5 tn
economy : Gujarat CM
SURAT: Launching the master plan for the Surat Economic Region (SER), Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel recently said it will play a crucial role in making the state a $3.5 trillion economy by 2047.
The ‘Economic Master Plan of Surat Economic Region’ was launched as part of NITI Aayog’s ‘Growth Hub’ programme.
“Surat’s Economic Development Plan will achieve the goal of ‘Developed Gujarat to Developed India’,” said CM Patel at the event.
The CM further said he would make a future-oriented master plan for other areas of North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Central Gujarat.
Launching the ‘Economic Development Plan’, Patel said, “The master plan for future development is not just a document, but a commitment that can make a big difference in the economic landscape of six districts of the state Under this, the development prospects of sustainable agriculture, real estate, tourism, IT, logistics etc. sectors, which are the basis of development, have also been revealed.”
He further said, “This initiative will provide new energy and boost the development model of Gujarat. It aims to generate $3.5 trillion and create 34 lakh new employment opportunities Under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat has become the growth engine of the country, while the growth engine of Gujarat is Surat. Surat has gained prominence as the center of economic activities of the state.”
Patel said the Surat manufacturing sector contributes 55% to the state GDP against the state contribution of 36%.
“The foundation of this achievement lies in the
traditional industries like textiles, gems jewellery, diamonds, chemicals and dyes,” he said. He said that being a state with policy driven and sector-specific policies, Gujarat has become the best choice of investment for entrepreneurs from India and abroad.
Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT) has also been operationalised on the pattern of Niti Aayog to realise the development vision of the state at a faster pace, Patel said.
Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil said, “The Government of India has expressed full confidence in the people of Surat. It is relevant to note that through the implementation of this master plan of Niti Aayog, Surat region will become the growth engine of the country’s development.”
Giving details about the Economic Development Plan, CEO of NITI Aayog B V R Subramaniam said, “Surat and five surrounding districts have great opportunities for economic development. Surat Economic Zone has full potential and merit for balanced development. Niti Aayog has worked and brainstormed continuously for a year to create an economic development plan in collaboration with the Gujarat Government and Surat local administration.”
India’s logistics costs to drop to single digit within ve years : Nitin Gadkari
NEW DELHI: India’s logistics cost is set to fall to single digits within the next five years, according to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari
Speaking at the Deloitte’s Summit Arohana 2.0 – Growth with Impact, Gadkari highlighted ongoing highway and expressway projects aimed at reducing logistics costs significantly
According to the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), India’s logistics costs ranged between 7 8% to 8 9% of GDP in 2021-22 Gadkari emphasized the
importance of making the Indian automobile industry the world’s number one, noting its growth from Rs 7.5 lakh crore in 2014 to Rs 22 lakh crore in 2024
Gadkari also discussed India’s position as the fastestgrowing major economy and stressed the need to increase exports and reduce imports He underscored the importance of performance audits over financial audits in any organization. Additionally, the minister mentioned the concept of economically viable smart villages alongside smart cities.
India and South Korea begin Digital Trade with Electronic Bill of Lading
NEW DELHI: In an effort to facilitate ease of doing business, South Korea and India have initiated the electronic transfer of bill of lading (BoL) between their respective customs authorities This development coincides with global efforts to establish the foundation for all documentation related to cross-border trade.
The bill of lading serves as a legal document providing proof of shipment, ownership, and contract details
India’s Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Santosh Kumar Sarangi has said that once this system is adopted globally, physical submission of such records will no longer be necessary
India-South Korea pave the way for e-trade documentation
At an industry event held recently, Sarangi noted that
India and South Korea have initiated this practice of electronic bill of lading exchange South Korea, a significant trade partner of India, entered into a comprehensive free trade agreement with India in 2010. In 2022-23, India’s exports to South Korea amounted to US$6.41 billion, while imports reached US$21.13 billion.
He anticipated that the transition from physical to electronic document submission might be fully implemented w
. This initiative is part of a broader effort led by the United Nations Commission on International Trade L a w ( U N C I T R A L ) t o d i g i t i z e g l o b a l t r a d e documentation, with several countries participating in the process UNCITRAL is dedicated to modernizing and harmonizing international trade law.
Major Ports start experimenting with O&M model for privatising Cargo Terminals
NEW DELHI: Indian Major Ports steadily more adopting the operation and maintenance (O&M) model as an alternative to the public-private pa r t ne r ship ( P P P ) f o r m a t f o r privatising cargo terminals.
The O&M model is seen as a riskfree and litigation-free solution, in contrast to the longer-term and more complex PPP agreements. India has 12 major ports under the central government’s jurisdiction. None of t h e s e m a j o r p o r t s h a v e b e e n privatised, as the ownership of the land and waterfront remains with the government. The government allows private participation in specific projects through PPP models Currently, 89 out of 277 berths in these major ports are operated under the PPP model.
Advantages of O&M over PPP
Under the PPP model, private firms are awarded 30-year contracts to handle cargo at terminals, with clearly d e f i n e d t e r m s i n c o n c e s s i o n agreements. While providing longterm infrastructure development, these projects often encounter significant challenges, including contract defaults, litigation, and project terminations.
In contrast, the O&M model offers shorter contracts of 5-10 years, allowing ports to maintain greater control while minimising legal risks.
The appeal of the O&M model lies in its simplicity and lower risk. Unlike PPP projects, which require ports to compensate private operators with
90 per cent of their debt if a project fails, O&M contracts are short-term, with fewer financial liabilities. Ports remain in control of the asset, while private firms focus on day-to-day operations.
A r e c e n t e x a m p l e i s t h e Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), which awarded a five-year O&M contract to Green Energy Resources Ports Pvt Ltd for operating its East Quay 1A (EQ1A) berth.
This decision came after a failed PPP attempt with SEW Infrastructure Ltd, which abandoned the coal handling project midway. The port authority completed the remaining work itself, demonstrating the flexibility of O&M in allowing ports to step in when private partners fail.
Financial Gains
The O&M model is proving to be financially rewarding for VPA. Its East Quay 1 (EQ1) terminal, now operated under O&M by HIQ Services, has emerged as the port’s highest revenue generator. The terminal handles about two million tonnes of cargo annually, generating Rs 200 per ton for the port authority, amounting to Rs 80 crores in FY24.
This revenue has already allowed the port to recover its costs after it took over the terminal from Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) following the termination of the PPP agreement due to nonc o m p l i a n c e w i t h m i n i m u m guaranteed throughput (MGT) obligations.
V i s a k h a p
advantages of O&M over PPP The port authority not only earns more revenue from its O&M-operated ter minals but also avoids the lengthy arbitration and litigation commonly linked to terminated PPP projects Given this success, VPA is now exploring O&M for its West Quay berths, previously slated for PPP.
Other major ports are following suit Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority (formerly Kolkata Port Trust) recently awarded a five-year O&M contract to APSEZ to manage container traffic at Netaji Subhas Dock. Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla, Gujarat, is also exploring the O&M model for its new berths, according to a media report.
Limitations of O&M for Large-Scale Projects
However, private operators argue that O&M is suitable only for smaller, existing (brownfield ) projects For larger projects that require significant investment and infrastr ucture development, they say the PPP model remains essential, as many ports lack the financial capacity for such expansions.
However, to sum up, this shift could shape the future of India’s port infrastructure, especially as ports seek more agile and profitable ways to expand their capacity and improve operational efficiency
Adani Ports dees odds : FY25 volume outlook remains robust
AHMEDABAD: While Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd hit a temporary s n a g i n H 1 F Y 2 5 , t h e v o l u m e guidance remains strong at 460-480 mmt for FY25, stated a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services Volumes in Q1FY25 grew 7 per cent YoY Further, Aug’24 volumes were also impacted by severe weather in Kutch, affecting operations at Mundra and Tuna. The company handled 183 mmt of cargo volumes over Apr-Aug’24.
While H1FY25 volumes were temporarily impacted by a worker strike and weather conditions, the situation is normalized now and the FY25 volume guidance of 460-480 mmt remains unchanged. “APSEZ is expected to record 2-3x of India’s cargo volume growth. APSEZ targets becoming India’s largest integrated transport utility and the world’s largest private port company by 2030.
Financial Services said.
APSEZ has signed a concession agreement with Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) to develop Berth No 13 at Kandla, Gujarat The 300m berth, with a capacity of 5.7 mmt, is set to be operational by FY27, expanding APSEZ’s presence at Deendayal Port and boosting service to Gujarat and North India.
Acquisition
APSEZ has agreed to acquire an 80 per cent stake in Astro for $185 million, valuing the company at $235 million, and the existing promoters of Astro will hold the remaining 20 per cent stake. Founded in 2009, Astro is a global offshore support vessels (OSV) operator with a fleet of 26 vessels, providing services across the Middle East, India, Far East Asia,
and Africa. The acquisition increases APSEZ’s fleet size to 168 vessels, expanding its presence in key regions and enhancing its Tier-1 customer base.
Building infrastructure
As APSEZ aims to become India’s largest integrated transport utility company by 2030, it is strengthening its capabilities in all logistics segments (ports, CTO, warehousing, last-mile delivery, ICDs, etc ) Hence, it offers end-to-end service to its customers, thereby capturing a higher wallet share and making the cargo sticky in nature,thereportstated
The company currently operates 12 multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs), equipped with 131 trains, 2.9m sqft. of warehousing space, and 1.2 mmt of grain silos. It plans to expand its footprint and build a pan-India presence with logistic parks and warehouses.
DPA employs 12 Dependent family members on compassionate ground
GANDHIDHAM: As per the approved policy of the Board of Deendayal Port Authority, which has duly been endorsed by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Water ways in August 2023, 12 Nos. of dependent family members of the erstwhile DLB (presently known as Cargo Handling division (Under the Traffic Department), decided to provide employment on compassionate ground.
The Board, at it meeting held on 04-09-2024, under the Chairmanship of Shri Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME , Chairman DPA, took this decision
The Traffic Manager, has been directed to issue ‘Offer of appointment’ to all such dependents family members. The issue of providing employment to these people, were under consideration since long by the department due to non verification of documents This benevolent decision of the port administration has ultimately led for employment of such family members of deceased employees, which will definately bring out them from financial destitute In December 2023, 14 such dependent family members of DPA other than CHD were provided employment In last 7 months, DPA has provided employment on compassionate ground to 28 such dependents as per approved policy
Delhivery and Team Global Logistics enter strategic partnership for ocean freight, focus on inbound and outbound logistics for ocean freight
Team Global is the largest Less than Container load (LCL) operator in India, catering to worldwide des na ons through leading global cargo network, World Wide Alliance (WWA)
both as importers as well as exporters
GURGAON: Delhivery, India's largest fully integrated logistics service provider, is expanding its cross-border services with a strategic partnership with Teamglobal Logistics.
Teamglobal logistics, is a leader in the fast-growing ocean freight sector, offering transportation services between all major international cargo centers using a combination of land, sea and air modes. This strategic partnership will provide an expanded reach of 120+ countries for Delhivery’s Less than Container Load (LCL) service.
Delhivery, in turn, will enable in-land services of its Part Truckload (PTL) shipping solution within India to Teamglobal with its reach of 18,700+ pin codes.
T h i s i n t e g r
freight solutions supported by tech-enabled tracking, i n - h o
dedicated customer servicing will support growth for businesses looking to trade internationally -
This partnership provides an integrated solution to the traditional problem of Indian businesses who deal with multiple service providers to arrange their cargo transportation originating and going to global destinations, and vice versa. This also addresses the struggle of businesses seeking a national level service p
requirements.
Navneet Khandelwal, Senior Director –Global Operations at Delhivery, said, "We are thrilled to partner with Teamglobal who are leaders in the Less than Container Load shipping and pass the benefits of this partnership to our enterprise and SME customers across India. "
Sujit Baral, Vice President at Teamglobal, stated, "Delhivery’s extensive coverage ensures that we service almost any inland point in India via the largest Part Truckload network to create a superior last-mile experience for our customers. We look forward to the partnership given our mutual ground for process excellence and technology-enabled customer experience”
Rorix Holdings and Adani Ports Sign MoU to Revolutionize the Commodities Market Ecosystem
ABU DHABI: Rorix Holdings, the Abu Dhabi-based global trade facilitation and finance company, a n n o u n c e s t h e s i g n i n g o f a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the UAE-India Business Forum with Adani Ports a n d S p e c i a l E c o n o m i c Z o n e Limited, India’s largest private multi-port operator This strategic partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both organisations to integrate advanced technologies into their logistics and trading platforms and create synergies that will transform the commodities market ecosystem.
port management, we aim to revolutionize the way commodities are traded, stored, and managed."
Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Executive Chairman of Rorix Holdings, stated: “Our partnership with Adani Ports will create an innovative and efficient commodities market ecosystem By combining our expertise in regulated financial platforms and market infrastructure with Adani Ports' strength in logistics and
Mr Karan Adani, Managing D i r e c t o r o f A P S E Z a d d e d : “This partnership represents a unique opportunity to transform the commodities trade landscape By leveraging next-generation technologies and combining our expertise, we aim to redefine how commodities markets operate. The collaboration between Rorix and Adani Ports is a significant step towards our ambition to become one of the largest integrated transport and logistics infrastructure companies globally, providing comprehensive end-to-end services.”
This initiative marks a significant step towards fostering innovation and growth in the commodities market, offering a more seamless, secure, and transparent trading environment for stakeholders worldwide
