India is swiftly positioning itself as a pivotal force in the global supply chain ecosystem, with a clear vision to establish itself as a leading supply chain solution provider by 2030. This ambitious transformation is driven by a combination of forward-thinking policy frameworks, substantial investments in world-class infrastructure, and the integration of advanced technologies. The Indian government has prioritised initiatives that streamline logistics, enhance manufacturing capabilities, and foster innovation, creating an environment conducive to resilient and agile supply chains. At a time when global supply networks are increasingly vulnerable to disruptions such as pandemics, natural disasters, and escalating geopolitical conflicts, building resilience has become more critical than ever. Embedding this resilience into contractual agreements ensures that supply chains can absorb shocks, adapt to changes, and maintain continuity. India’s comprehensive approach, spanning regulatory reforms, infrastructure modernisation, and digital adoption, offers a practical blueprint for embedding robustness into supply chains by design, setting new standards for reliability and sustainability on the global stage.  India's Vision for 2030: A Global Supply Chain Hub India's ambition to be a global supply chain solution provider by 2030 is underpinned by several key developments: 1. Policy Reforms and Strategic Initiatives National Logistics Policy (NLP): Launched in September 2022, the NLP represents India’s comprehensive strategy to transform its logistics sector, which currently accounts for approximately 13-15% of the country’s GDP, much higher than the global average of around 8-10%. The policy aims to reduce these logistics costs to below 10% by 2030, unlocking significant economic benefits. The NLP focuses on creating a seamless, integrated logistics ecosystem by emphasising multimodal connectivity, combining road, rail, waterways, and air transport to optimise freight movement and reduce transit times. Key components include: Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP): A digital platform designed to provide end-to-end visibility, reduce paperwork, and facilitate real-time tracking of shipments. Multimodal Logistics Parks (MMLPs): The policy plans to develop 35 MMLPs across India, equipped with warehousing, cold storage, and value-added services, to improve cargo handling efficiency. Regulatory Reforms: Simplification of procedures through harmonised laws and the introduction of a single window clearance system to speed up clearances and reduce bottlenecks. Green Logistics: Promotion of sustainable practices, including electric vehicles in logistics and energy-efficient warehouses to reduce carbon emissions. Employment Generation: The policy is expected to create over 10 million direct and indirect jobs by 2030, catalysing growth in allied sectors. By targeting a reduction of logistics costs by 30-40%, the NLP is expected to improve India’s competitiveness, attract foreign investment, and support the goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2025 and a $10 trillion economy by 2030. According to government estimates, the policy will improve freight handling capacity by 2.5 times and reduce average delivery times by up to 20%, making Indian supply chains more efficient and resilient PM Gati Shakti Master Plan: The PM Gati Shakti initiative is a transformative, multi-modal infrastructure development program launched in 2021, aimed at integrating more than 16 ministries and departments to create a unified, synchronised approach toward India’s infrastructure growth. By coordinating projects related to roads, railways, ports, airports, and logistics hubs, it seeks to eliminate bottlenecks, reduce duplication, and enhance connectivity across the country. This integrated approach is designed to slash logistics costs currently around 13-15% of India’s GDP by improving last-mile connectivity and streamlining cargo movement. With a planned investment exceeding $130 billion by 2030, PM Gati Shakti is expected to reduce freight transit times by up to 40%, boost freight capacity by over 50%, and significantly improve the overall supply chain efficiency. It also emphasises the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, such as Geographic Information System (GIS)-based planning and real-time tracking, to ensure better project execution and monitoring. Ultimately, this initiative will strengthen India’s position as a global supply chain hub by creating a faster, more reliable, and cost-effective logistics network. Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC): The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), stretching over 1,856 kilometres from Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni in West Bengal, is now fully operational, marking a major milestone in India’s freight infrastructure. This corridor is designed exclusively for freight trains, enabling faster and heavier cargo movement with reduced congestion on passenger routes. Complementing this, the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), spanning approximately 1,500 kilometres from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) near Mumbai, is nearing completion with key sections already commissioned. Together, these two corridors form the backbone of India’s freight transportation network, expected to reduce transit times by up to 50% compared to conventional routes. For example, freight transit from Delhi to Mumbai could be cut from around 3-4 days to just 1-2 days. In terms of cost, these corridors are projected to lower logistics expenses by approximately 20%, significantly enhancing supply chain efficiency. The Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) also support higher axle loads, enabling trains to carry double the usual freight volume in a single run, which contributes to reduced carbon emissions and environmental impact. These developments align with the government’s goal to reduce logistics costs to below 10% of GDP by 2030, improve supply chain resilience, and boost India’s competitiveness in global markets. By decongesting conventional rail networks and providing faster, reliable freight movement, the EDFC and WDFC are vital pillars of India’s ambition to become a preferred supply chain destination worldwide. 2. Technological Advancements Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): The Indian government is making significant investments in digital platforms to modernise the logistics sector, aiming to streamline processes, enhance transparency, and minimise paperwork. Central to this effort is the development of the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP), a comprehensive digital ecosystem designed to integrate various stakeholders’ transporters, warehouse operators, freight forwarders, customs officials, and regulators onto a single platform. ULIP facilitates real-time tracking of shipments, automated documentation, and seamless exchange of information, which drastically reduces delays and human errors. Additionally, initiatives like the E-Way Bill System, which mandates electronic documentation for the movement of goods, have already helped curb tax evasion and simplified compliance, with over 100 million E-Way bills generated monthly as of 2024. The government is also promoting the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in logistics operations to improve supply chain visibility and predictive analytics, enabling proactive risk management. Furthermore, digital innovations such as blockchain pilots are underway in sectors like pharmaceuticals and agriculture to ensure traceability, reduce fraud, and enhance trust among supply chain partners. These digital transformations are crucial to reducing India's logistics costs from the current 13-15% of GDP to the target of under 10% by 2030, boosting efficiency, and making Indian supply chains more transparent, resilient, and globally competitive. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT): Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are increasingly being leveraged across India’s supply chain ecosystem to predict risks, optimise operations, and significantly enhance resilience. AI-powered analytics enable companies to forecast demand fluctuations, identify potential disruptions, and make data-driven decisions in real time. For instance, machine learning algorithms analyse vast amounts of supply chain data ranging from weather patterns to geopolitical developments to provide early warnings about risks such as supplier delays or inventory shortages. Simultaneously, IoT devices, including sensors on trucks, warehouses, and shipping containers, collect continuous real-time data on location, temperature, humidity, and equipment health. This connectivity allows for proactive monitoring and instant response to anomalies, minimising losses and ensuring product quality, especially for sensitive goods like pharmaceuticals and perishable foods. In India, government-supported pilot projects have demonstrated how AI and IoT integration can reduce transit delays by up to 25% and cut operational costs by 15-20%. Companies are also using AI-driven route optimisation to lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions, aligning with India’s sustainability goals. Moreover, these technologies facilitate enhanced transparency and collaboration among supply chain partners, boosting overall agility and the ability to recover quickly from disruptions. By embedding AI and IoT into supply chains, India is building a technologically advanced, resilient supply network that can withstand future shocks and support its vision of becoming a global supply chain leader by 2030. Blockchain Technology: Blockchain technology is increasingly being explored and adopted in India to enhance transparency and traceability across supply chains, especially in critical sectors like agriculture and pharmaceuticals. By creating an immutable, decentralised ledger, blockchain enables all stakeholders, farmers, processors, distributors, regulators, and consumers to access a secure, tamper-proof record of every transaction and movement of goods. In agriculture, blockchain helps verify the origin and quality of produce, track shipments from farm to market, and ensure fair pricing for farmers. This reduces fraud, minimises disputes, and improves trust within the supply chain. Several pilot projects across states like Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have demonstrated blockchain’s potential to improve efficiency and transparency in the agri-supply ecosystem. In the pharmaceutical sector, blockchain is being used to combat counterfeit drugs, a significant challenge in India’s vast healthcare market. By securely tracking medicines through every stage of the supply chain, from manufacturing to dispensing, blockchain ensures authenticity and regulatory compliance. The government has supported initiatives to integrate blockchain with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) framework, enhancing patient safety and regulatory oversight. Overall, blockchain adoption aligns with India’s broader digital and supply chain resilience goals by providing an auditable, trustworthy system that enhances accountability and operational efficiency. As blockchain technologies mature, their expanded use is expected to strengthen India’s position as a reliable and transparent global supply chain hub by 2030.    

In a major shift for the freight forwarding sector, Frankfurt Airport has lost its long-held status as Europe's top air freight hub to Istanbul Airport, according to the German Aviation Association (BDL). Despite a 6% global rise in air cargo volumes in 2024, Frankfurt managed only a 1.2% increase, while Istanbul surged ahead with a 39.6% jump in freight transport. The BDL attributes this decline to high ground handling costs, regulatory inefficiencies, and bureaucratic hurdles issues that are weakening Germany’s position in supply chain and freight forwarding. In contrast, airports in neighboring countries, such as Istanbul, are offering more competitive logistics environments, with lower operating expenses and faster freight processing times. To address these challenges, the BDL has proposed a five-point action plan. This includes reducing state-imposed ground fees, digitizing EU aviation safety compliance, standardizing customs law enforcement, streamlining import VAT collection, and allowing more flexible scheduling at air cargo centers. These reforms aim to strengthen freight systems supply chain solutions in Germany and prevent further erosion of its logistics competitiveness.