New Delhi : Mr. Gaurav Pandey, Senior Director, DP World, while speaking at the International Trade Conclave, offered a practical and industry-focused perspective on where India stands today in strengthening its supply chain and logistics ecosystem—and what still needs to be done.
Responding to a question on India’s preparedness, Mr. Pandey stated that the country is clearly on the right track, particularly when supply chain reforms are viewed through two critical lenses: infrastructure development and digital transformation.
Infrastructure: Reducing Cost, Improving Efficiency
Mr. Pandey highlighted that significant progress has been made in physical infrastructure development, especially in logistics and ports. Investments in port infrastructure, logistics parks, and allied systems are helping reduce logistics costs while improving turnaround time and operational efficiency. He noted that these developments directly address long-standing bottlenecks in India’s export–import ecosystem.
Digital Journey: Transforming Supply Chain Visibility
The most transformative change, according to Mr. Pandey, lies in India’s digital journey. He explained how logistics traditionally involved multiple stakeholders—shipping lines, ports, transporters, railways, and customs—forcing exporters and importers to track shipments across multiple platforms, often with limited visibility.
He cited the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) as a game-changer. ULIP integrates multiple systems such as:
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ICEGATE for customs
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FOIS for rail freight
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Port and shipping line systems
This integration enables end-to-end track and trace, providing exporters and importers with real-time visibility across the entire logistics value chain—dramatically improving transparency, predictability, and decision-making.
Government vs Industry: A Shared Responsibility
In a powerful concluding analogy, Mr. Pandey remarked:
“The government can lay the railway track, but running the train on that track is the responsibility of industry and consumers.”
He emphasised that while the government has created the infrastructure and digital backbone, industry must actively adopt, utilise, and optimise these systems to unlock their full potential.
Mr. Gaurav Pandey’s address reinforced a key message of the conclave: India’s logistics and supply chain reforms are structurally sound, but their success now depends on industry-led execution, adoption, and innovation. With infrastructure and digital rails in place, the momentum must now come from businesses ready to move faster, smarter, and more collaboratively in global trade.
