New Delhi: On January 31st, 2024, Sumita Dawra, Special Secretary of the Logistics Division at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, chaired the 9th Services Improvement Group (SIG) meeting. The focus was on EXIM logistics and infrastructure issues.
During the meeting, various initiatives by Ministries to address industry challenges were showcased. The Department of Revenue shared details about integrating a new system to streamline bulk filing of shipping bills, aiming to enhance efficiency. The meeting highlighted the success of the Electronic Logs (E-Logs) platform, empowering SIG to swiftly tackle logistical challenges.
The E-Logs platform features real-time issue tracking, secure data sharing, and improved communication, leading to significant reductions in resolving logistical challenges, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
A notable achievement discussed was the resolution of a long-standing staff-related issue at the Air Freight Station. The Department of Revenue informed SIG members about resolving the deployment of custom staff at the Air Freight Station, Kapashera, through prompt actions with support from the Logistics Division, DPIIT.
Industry associations acknowledged the collaborative approach between the government and industry stakeholders through initiatives like the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) inviting comments on the B-2-B draft policy.
Representatives from Amazon shared how the notification of the Joint Parcel Policy benefited the e-commerce industry, with further benefits expected in parcel freight movement on railways.
Addressing concerns about transporting rubber products from the North-Eastern region, ongoing initiatives by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways were discussed. This included awarding dredging contracts for waterway routes connecting Tripura and Kolkata port, along with exploring alternative routes.
The meeting, attended by over 40 participants including officials from various ministries and 9 industry representatives, highlighted the collaborative efforts between the government and industry associations to drive innovation, streamline processes, and foster growth in the EXIM logistics sector, showcasing the outcomes of the National Logistics Policy (NLP) through SIG’s inter-ministerial engagement with over 30 business associations in the logistics sector.