Author: Cargo Insights

Çelebi India ranks 3rd worldwide for ground handling services by Turkish Cargo, showcasing its operational excellence. Çelebi India has been ranked 3rd globally for ground handling services by Turkish Cargo, earning the “3rd Best Ramp GHA 2024” award at the Turkish Cargo Global Operations Summit in Istanbul. This recognition underscores Çelebi’s exceptional ramp handling performance at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. The accolade highlights Çelebi India’s commitment to seamless operations, enhanced safety measures, and service excellence. Previously, Çelebi received the “3rd Best Ramp GHA 2023” award at the World Cargo Symposium in Hong Kong, reinforcing its consistency in delivering top-tier ground…

Softlink Global hosted LogiTHON at IIT Bombay, challenging students to solve real-world logistics issues with tech-driven solutions. Softlink Global hosted LogiTHON, a 24-hour hackathon aimed at solving key logistics challenges. The event drew over 1,500 students from 250+ engineering colleges, with 27 teams shortlisted to tackle cross-border compliance and real-time multi-modal route optimisation. Finalists presented their solutions to an esteemed jury, including Dushyant Mulani, Chairman of FFFAI, R. Radhakrishnan of Clearship Group, and Softlink Global CEO Amit Maheshwari. Maheshwari highlighted the logistics sector’s transformative potential, stating, “Technology is the backbone of modern logistics.” Industry leaders praised LogiTHON for bridging the…

India implements multiple schemes to strengthen EV manufacturing, battery storage, and charging infrastructure nationwide. The government is actively incentivising electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, component producers, and charging infrastructure developers to accelerate EV adoption in India. Several key initiatives have been introduced to enhance the sector’s long-term viability and growth. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobiles & Auto Components, launched in September 2021, allocates ₹25,938 crore to boost advanced automotive technology (AAT) manufacturing. The FAME India Phase-II scheme, operational since April 2019, provides ₹11,500 crore for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and public charging stations. Additionally, the PLI Scheme for…

An MoU was signed to develop a 150-acre logistics park in Varanasi, enhancing connectivity and boosting trade efficiency. The National Highways Logistics Management (NHLML) and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The agreement was formalised in the presence of Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Sarbananda Sonowal. Spanning 150 acres, the park will have direct connectivity to NH7 through a 650-meter access road and will be 1.5 km from the NH7-NH2 junction. It will also integrate with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor via a…

DPIIT’s Project Monitoring Group reviewed challenges in 15 major projects worth ₹10,396 crore, focusing on ESIC hospitals and 5G rollout. The Project Monitoring Group (PMG) of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) conducted a review of 15 critical infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, collectively valued at ₹10,396 crore. The session addressed 25 key issues, including five projects under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, particularly the construction of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospitals aimed at enhancing healthcare for insured individuals. Another major discussion centered on Reliance Jio’s 5G/4G network expansion, which is…

India’s coal imports fell by 8.4% to 183.42 MT in April-December 2024, saving $5.43 billion in foreign exchange. Coal imports declined to 183.42 million tonnes (MT) between April and December 2024, down 8.4% from 200.19 MT in the same period of FY 2023-24. This reduction resulted in foreign exchange savings of approximately $5.43 billion (₹42,315.7 crore). The Non-Regulated Sector, excluding power, saw a sharper decline of 12.01%. Despite a 3.53% rise in coal-based power generation, imports for blending by thermal power plants dropped significantly by 29.8%, reflecting India’s push for coal self-sufficiency. Government initiatives like Commercial Coal Mining and Mission…

India’s pharmaceutical exports stood at 11th position globally in 2023, contributing 3% to the total exports, as per Bain & Company. India ranked 11th globally in pharmaceutical exports in 2023, accounting for 3% of total global pharmaceutical trade, according to a 2025 report by Bain & Company. To strengthen drug quality and safety, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have implemented regulatory measures. Since December 2022, CDSCO, along with state regulators, has conducted risk-based inspections of 905 manufacturing units, leading to 694 regulatory actions, including production halts and license suspensions. The…

India plans to develop 50 new airports in the next five years, enhancing connectivity and supporting aviation sector growth. Gandhinagar hosted the second “India Aircraft Leasing and Financing Summit,” organised by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and FICCI, with support from IFSCA. Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu highlighted the government’s ambitious plans for airport expansion, emphasising that 50 new airports will be developed in the next five years. By 2047, India aims to have 350 operational airports, including 34 mega airports handling two crore passengers annually. Naidu also announced the extension of the UDAN scheme for another…

Government amends policy, allowing free export of broken rice amid ample stocks. The Indian government has lifted the export ban on broken rice, a restriction initially imposed in September 2022 to stabilise domestic supply. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) announced that the export policy has been amended from “prohibited” to “free” with immediate effect. The decision follows repeated requests from exporters, citing increased inventories and stable domestic prices. Last year, the government had already eased restrictions on non-basmati white rice by removing the minimum export price (MEP) of $490 per tonne and lifting a blanket ban on its…

MoU signed to promote eco-friendly freight, warehousing, and rail transport. Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) have signed an MoU to establish the CONCOR-TERI Centre of Excellence for Green and Sustainable Logistics. The agreement, signed at India Habitat Centre, aims to advance green freight transportation, sustainable warehousing, and innovative logistics solutions. The collaboration will focus on research in sustainable rail transport, green terminal operations, infrastructure development, and modern warehousing techniques. CONCOR Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Swarup highlighted key ESG initiatives, including 95% cargo movement via rail, the deployment of 130 LNG-powered trailers for…

Jean-Benoit Devauges joins GEODIS as Group General Counsel and a member of its Management and Executive Boards. GEODIS has appointed Jean-Benoit Devauges as its new Group General Counsel. He will serve on the company’s Management Board, chaired by Chief Executive Officer Marie-Christine Lombard, and will also be part of the Executive Board alongside Lombard and David-Olivier Tarac. Devauges brings extensive legal expertise, having started his career at Lazareff & Associés before joining Renault’s legal team in 2000. He later moved to Nissan Motor Company, working in Tokyo and then in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2011, he became deputy to Renault’s group…

The 25th FFFAI Biennial Convention will take place in Goa, focusing on strategic partnerships and emerging opportunities in EXIM logistics. The Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) is set to organise its 25th Biennial Convention from May 29 to 31, 2025, at Taj Cidade De Goa. Themed “Enhancing Strategic Partnerships: Unleashing Potential,” the event will emphasise opportunities for youth, women, and entrepreneurs in EXIM logistics. This highly anticipated convention will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and logistics professionals, including custom brokers, freight forwarders, multimodal transport operators, shipping lines, and airlines. It will feature insightful discussions on trade facilitation,…