Even after centuries the grand old city Kolkata still continues to control and command a sizable domestic and EXIM trade in the eastern states of India. The Victorian trade hub is a gateway to the north eastern states, ASEAN countries including Myanmar and Nepal, and immediate neighbour to Bangladesh. In recent years the state has steadily steered itself unto a path of economic and trade resurgence, and has become the 4th largest state economy in the country by registering a remarkable growth of 15.64% GVA. With a population of well over 91 million (as per the 2011 census), this market is poised for some exciting time ahead. It is apt and timely to make the ‘City of Joy’ to be the next pit stop for Smart Logistics Summit & Awards 2018.
On the maritime infrastructure front, major ports at Kolkata and Haldia have jointly shouldered the responsibility to keep the maritime trade on the move. With proposed two major deep sea ports at Sagar Island and Tajpur, Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor aligned to Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, national waterways, and ready-to-operate industrial infrastructure of over 200 industrial parks & estates covering around 20,000 acres, the region is gearing up to be the new destination of investment opportunities. The industrial base in Bengal is spread across sectors including Industrial infrastructure, Manufacturing (Light engineering, Auto Ancillaries, Leather, Gems & Jewellery, Textile), Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Plastics, Rubber, Urban Development, Agro (Seeds and Fertilizers, Food Processing, Animal Resource Development, Fisheries), Transport, and Power Generation, to name a few. The market serves a large consumer base, and has the potential to expand further if the right mix of logistics services could be tailored for them. It is probably one the very few states which has an active inland waterways system in place, offering a perfect ground for multi-modal logistics. No wonder the NW-1 runs through the state, and it along with the road and rail network if used tactically by ports, terminals and logistics service providers, can unlock the opportunity to tap India’s most populous states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and beyond.
The potential is immense so do the challenges. And there couldn’t be a better platform than Smart Logistics Summit to meet and interact with people who matter the most in EXIM and maritime trade. The sessions and topics are carefully chosen to address the best interest of all stakeholders on the existing challenges and explore opportunities to make logistics smart. Smart logistics can improve delivery reliability and simplify the supply chain management, benefiting the EXIM community.
A glittering night of ‘AWARDS’ is also awaiting to recognize accomplishments in the sector.