SME Times News Bureau | 20 Jan, 2021
The National Conference with States on Logistics was
organized on Tuesday 19th January, 2021, with the objective to
initiate a consultative and collaborative framework for the Central and State
Governments to work in a coordinated manner in the logistic sector.
The Conference was attended by more than 175
participants from the States and UTs, Central Ministries and Industry bodies.
The
Conference emphasized that States have a key role to play in improving the
country’s logistics performance.
A
comprehensive 18 Point Agenda was presented to the States to improve the
logistics. Thrust areas for logistics improvements in the States were
identified as city logistics, simplification of approvals for warehouses,
facilitation for warehousing development, reducing burden on truck movement and
addressing shortage of truck drivers.
It
was decided that Ministry of Commerce & Industry will work with Ministry of
Housing and Urban Affairs to focus on 50 cities for logistics planning
initially. A plan for facilitation to reduce enforcement burden on truck
drivers will be developed.
Many
States have already appointed senior officers as nodal officers for logistics
and others will do the same in a short period of time. State Level
Coordination Committees on Logistics will be formed.
Central
Ministries looking after the transportation will appoint State Nodal Officers
to coordinate with the States. The Logistics Division of the Ministry of
Commerce & Industry will embark on things on survey to assess and rank
States on logistics performance.
The
State ranking will focus on data in addition to perspective on logistics
performance. Support will be provided to the States to improve the
capacity for logistics coordination. A City Conference will also be
organized to take forward the initiatives of the Conference.
The
States of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tripura, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh made
presentations, during the Conference, on policy initiatives taken by their
respective States in the logistics sector.
In his address, Union Minister of Commerce &
Industry, Piyush Goyal said that a
National Logistic Policy which is under consultation, will work as a template
for better coordination and integrated development in logistics sector.
He
said that logistic team in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry is trying to
integrate various means of transport, documentation and stakeholders through technology
platforms, into a much-simplified way of working, which will enhance the Ease
of Doing Business.
Lauding
the cooperative spirit of the Conference, Goyal said that this will truly give
confidence to the business communities and stakeholders.
He
said that logistic is about ensuring customer satisfaction.
The
Minister said that logistic is all about: Getting the Right product - In the
Right condition - At the Right place - At the Right time - To the Right
customer.
Describing
Logistics as the lifeline of the nation's economy and industry, he said that in
the midst of the lockdown, we were able to ensure that not a single person had
to suffer for want of food grains, power or essential commodities.
He
stressed on the need for having special coordinated efforts to end the problem
of overhang on trucks which should be tackled in a mission mode. He said
that India has been able to demonstrate to the world its resilience and
capacity to face adversities.
Minister
of State for Commerce & Industry Som Parkash emphasized on strengthening
the logistic ecosystem, as it is the backbone of the country.
He
called for reducing the logistics costs from the present 13% to 8% which will
help Indian trade become competitive, create jobs, improve India’s ranking and
make it a logistics hub for global supply chain.
He
said that each State must have a logistics policy and State should focus and
develop the infrastructure.
Speaking
on the occasion, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Hardeep Singh
Puri stressed on the importance to have institutional mechanism to synergize
all stakeholders concerning city logistics.
He
said that the Logistics Division of the Commerce Ministry and the Smart City
Mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will collaborate with
identified cities to assist them, wherever required, in setting up a mechanism
for coordination with Central Government agencies.
Puri
said that cities need to develop supply chain awareness and plan for
infrastructure and its efficient use in existing and future scenarios. He
emphasized on rapid increase in urban space and assimilation and analysis of
data to identify data flow in life city growth aspirations and infrastructure
plans.