Big opportunity in pharmaceutical
Devang A. Joshi, President, Ahmedabad Customs House Agents’ Association (ACHAA), provides an insight into challenges and opportunities for customs brokers and freight forwarders in and around Ahmedabad, along with an update on ACHAA’s initiatives.
Please give an overview of the prevailing business scenario in and around Ahmedabad pertaining to customs broking and freight forwarding?
Ahmedabad, being in close proximity to port infrastructure like Mundra, Kandla, Pipavav and Hazira, has both an advantage and a disadvantage in the maritime industry. Ahmedabad has its own ICDs at ICD Khodiyar, run by CONCOR; ICD Thar (Sanand-Kadi Road) run by HPCSL; ICD Sachana at Sanand, run by DP World; and ICD Viramgam, run by Gateway Rail.
Customs broking business is divided amongst these locations and it is quite challenging as the customs broker must cater to his services at all these locations as per the requirement of customers. Business is divided among cargo clusters and factories, located close to this infrastructure, creating feasible and timely solutions for the EXIM industry. There is a challenge to work out the total logistics, both by road and by rail, as per the clients’ requirement.
What are the new opportunities/verticals in your region for custom brokers and freight forwarders?
There is a new vertical for the automobile industry cluster in and around Ahmedabad, which will boost the activity of customs brokers and freight forwarders. Simultaneously, the pharma sector provides a big opportunity to cater to cargo by air and sea along with both general movements and reefer movements. There is a possibility for one to cater to tailor-made logistics solutions by evaluating cost and transit by rail/ road/air through ICDs or cater to it directly by road port movements on round-trip basis. The expertise and acumen of working cost matrix with all these probabilities and parameters will define the success story for custom brokers and freight forwarders.
Are you facing any challenges specific to your region? What would be your recommendations to resolve those issues for the greater interest of the logistics industry as well as Exim trade?
A need has been felt for the optimum and feasible utilisation of available infrastructure near Ahmedabad. To extend a value addition, time-bound performance of shipments, safety and security of fraternity members and the cargo they handle will be a big challenge. The final feasibility of the end-cost to the EXIM trade is the need of the hour.
A new vertical for the automobile industry cluster in and around Ahmedabad will boost the activity of customs brokers. Simultaneously, pharma sector provides an opportunity to cater to cargo by air and sea
Gujarat has always been a pioneer to set up big industry conglomerates, which will further enhance growth to this region. A challenge would be to provide the skilled manpower to run this industry. One will have to enhance self-discipline, skills
for computers, EDI and online portals to give timely output to actual users.
How does your association help its members in view of these challenges and upcoming opportunities?
ACHAA has always been an innovator in establishing the best standards of work amongst their members, customs and allied authorities, and the trade. The proficient leaders from customs broking fraternity at Ahmedabad have showcased their contributions and foresightedness in the country as well as on global forums, not restricting them to only Ahmedabad or Gujarat.
The association takes care of the technical upgrade of members’ knowledge with local trainings, and organises social gatherings and welfare functions for customs brokers. We will strive hard to conduct more training programmes to create awareness of the latest customs laws, policy and procedures to bring in flawless and error-free workings with all trade partners like customers, customs, shipping lines and freight forwarders.
We look forward to more e-learning programmes to enhance the capacity building of the members at large.