During an event held in New Delhi, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, unveiled the “Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2024” report, highlighting the necessity for both public and private sectors to create robust action plans aimed at improving logistics to attract investments. This report not only evaluates logistics performance across various states but also calls for strategic regional and city-level logistics plans, particularly focusing on last-mile connectivity.
The Minister, who presided over the function featuring the “Logistics Excellence, Advancement, and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2024”, underscored the importance of developing measures to enhance green logistics and ensure workforce inclusivity. He pointed out that the incorporation of advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Analytics, is critical for the future success of the logistics sector. Speaking to the SMEStreet, Goyal stated that, “Logistics should look at exponential growth for India to grow rapidly,” emphasizing the role of logistics as a key enabler for economic advancement.
During his address, Goyal highlighted the need for greater gender inclusivity in the logistics domain, calling for initiatives to increase women's participation in the workforce. He advocated for the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to bolster the logistics sector's performance.
The LEADS 2024 report assesses logistics efficacy across four pivotal categories: Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services, the Operating and Regulatory Environment, and a newly introduced Sustainable Logistics segment. It presents a comprehensive overview of initiatives taken by various states and union territories (UTs), thereby pinpointing specific opportunities for improvement and facilitating informed decision-making.
The report categorised states into three groups based on their logistics performance. Coastal Group Achievers identified include Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu, while states like Andhra Pradesh and Goa were classified as Fast Movers. In the Landlocked category, Haryana, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand were recognised as Achievers, with Bihar and Himachal Pradesh noted as Fast Movers. For the North-Eastern states, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh lead the Achievers, while Meghalaya and Mizoram represent the Fast Movers.
With the launch of the 6th edition of the LEADS report, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, remarked on the enhanced objectivity of the outcomes, attributed to an increased number of objective indicators that measure accessibility to terminals and the efficiency of major road corridors.
In addition to the report, the event featured the LEAPS 2024 awards celebration, recognising outstanding contributions to the logistics sector across numerous categories, such as core logistics services, MSMEs, startups, and educational institutions. This recognition aims to foster leadership and innovation within the sector through a transparent evaluation process. Notable awardees included Kerry Indev Logistics as the leading Air Freight Service Provider and the Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai, for their education and skill development contributions in logistics.
To further support the logistics ecosystem, Goyal officially launched the PM GatiShakti Course, a 15-hour educational programme available through the iGOT Karmayogi platform, aiming at efficient infrastructure planning and national development. He also introduced a comprehensive Report on the Logistics Cost Framework prepared by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), which is set to deliver a thorough assessment of logistics costs in India.
These initiatives undertaken by the DPIIT are anticipated to significantly enhance India's logistics framework while advocating competitive federalism and recognising inventive approaches within the sector. Ultimately, they aim to contribute towards the nation’s vision of evolving into a $32 trillion economy by the year 2047.
Source: Noah Wire Services