India is
emerging as
a focus
market for
international
logistics
companies.
The Indian scene
India spends about 13 per cent of its
GDP on logistics related services,
according to a study undertaken by the
Michigan State University. This makes
India a focus market for international
logistics companies
In the past few years, some of the
world’s leading logistics service
providers such as GeoLogistics, Kuehne
& Nagel, Union Transport, Ahlers Bridge
N.V., and Nissin Corporation, among
others, have made their presence felt in
the Indian market either by launching
subsidiaries on their own or through joint
ventures with local firms.
But , different companies are looking
at different things in terms of logistics.
Thus, GeoLogistics in India proposes to
launch a Web-based track and trace
facility to offer information on pick-up,
departure, arrival and delivery.
Rajeev Bhatnagar, Managing Director,
Union Transport, feels that Web
enablement
of the Customs and other related
departments can speed up delivery
despite the present infrastructure
problems.
But the issue of infrastructure must
be addressed soon, more so because of
rising trade volumes. “The way the
freight forwarding business is being
done at present must change as the
demand for value-added services will
only increase,” Bhatnagar observes.
Rohan Ajila, Managing Director,
Indiamarkets.com, a portal in the
business-
to-business (B2B) segment, says
logistics companies are trying to
integrate
tracking systems into their core
business. The problems related to
delivery
in e-business can be solved if the
supply chain is managed effectively.
Sumit Gupta, CEO, Maritimei.com, a
global maritime e-biz portal, says that
road transport operators are now being
forced to shape up and offer valueadded
services. He feels that the Net is
going to drive middlemen out of the
trade and force road transport operators
to become more transparent.
Many B2B portals, apart from providing
trade platforms, are also planning to
provide complete solutions to enable
efulfilment
and are in the process of tying
up with logistics companies, and
verification
and credit rating agencies.
XPS Cargo Services, the door-to-door
express distribution division of Transport
Corporation of India, has introduced
e-link, a distribution channel for.
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION: MAJOR
PORTS
1. Berths leased out for 10 years to SAH. and TISCO
   at Haldia - 1991 for impart of coking coal and
   export of iron & steel material.
2. Berths leased out to "X-Press Container Line UK"
   and "Shreyas Shipping Ltd". for two years at
   Mumbai for handling containers.
3.A consortium led by P&O Australia is setting up a
   $200 million Container terminal on BOT basis at
   Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trial operation started in
   April 1999.
4.Agreement signed for construction of a captive
   Coal Jetty at Mumbai by Tata Electrics.
5. a) Agreement signed at Mormugao Port in April
   1999 for re- construction of $52 million two berths
   by M/s ABG on BOOT basis for handling Coal.
   b) One berth and waterfront leased out Western
   India Group for a floating Dry Dock and ship
   repairing complex. In operation since 1997.
6. Provision of equipment, operation and maintenance
   of container terminal at Tuticorin Port by Singapore
   Port Authority on BOT basis - 5 30 million.
   Operation to commence in 2000 AD.
7.Construction and management of two coal berths
   at New Mangalore Port (BOT) - $ 120 Million
8. a) Extension of container terminal at Cochin on
   BOT. Bids received from international companies
   under scrutiny.
    b) LNG Terminal - $ 150 Million by UNOCOL, USA
    proposed.
9. (ix) At Kandla, a captive jetty for fertilizer raw
    materials ($55 million) commissioned. Two oil
    jetties ($7 million) under construction by IOC & HP.
    Provision equipment, operation & maintenance of
    the container terminal ($ 100 million) - operator
    selected. Construction of four multipurpose berths
    and a CFS - bids invited.
10. (x) Integrated 5 berth chemical terminal with annual
    throughput of 19 million tonnes at Jawaharlal Nehru
    Port ($500 Million) - selection process on. POL
    Handling Facilities ($50 Million) awaiting signing of
    agreement with IOC & BPCL.
11. (xi) Captive facilities for handing coal, liquid bulk,
    etc. at Greenfield port of Ennore under construction
    near Chennai. Proposals for creation of LNG, POL
    product and chemical handling facilities by
    intentional oil giants under negotiation.
12. (xii) Development of captive port facilities proposed
    for petroleum crude, LPG, LNG by Indian and
    foreign oil companies at Haldia, Paradip,
    Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, Tuticorin, Cochin.
13. (xiii)Two Multi-purpose berths each at Haldia and
    Vizag - NIT issued. One LPG terminal with
    underground storage at Vizag already
    commissioned.