Exim Integrated Club (EIC), Mumbai, celebrated its second Get-Together & LSP Business Meet with the theme for this year being “Get Together Breeds Success, Integration Multiplies it!,” at Imperial Banquets, Vashi, on June 7, 2019, in the presence of nearly 300 members and supported by industry leaders with their presence, which was far more than last year’s presence of 200+ members, says a release.
It all began with giving an “Honour Clap for – Self”, highlighting the important role of LSP stakeholders in international commerce, followed by a brief introduction of EIC activities, mission, vision and spread across India. Covering 10 ports and ICD cities, it is the only platform which brings all stakeholder individuals together on a single forum to “share information, news, guidance and contacts” creating “Trust & Transparency” and promoting business networking towards “Collaborative & Collective Growth” for all.
The “EIC concept”, started in Pune in 2016 by Mr Anand Paranjape, with vision, mission, and active Pune and Mumbai team, has spread to Mumbai, Ahmedabad-Gandhidham, Delhi, Chennai-Bangalore-Cochin-Tuticorin-Vizag and Kolkata, Patna and most of the ICDs step by step in a span of just three years and is growing fast. EIC has been involved in various activities like creating awareness for Swachha Bharat Abhiyaan by getting ICD-Dighi to clean and maintain cleanliness with the help of Deputy/Assistant Commissioner of Customs being the custodian head. It actively collected and contributed to Kerala flood relief as a joint effort by EIC Mumbai and Pune.
Panel discussion
A panel discussion was held on “How Digitisation is transforming Logistics services” with participation from Mr Vinit Shetty and Mr Swapnil Chavan, Odex India Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Mr Nimish Desai, Director, N. H. Desai & Co., Mr Vivek Kele, Director, Teamglobal Logistics Pvt. Ltd, Mr Srikant Bhagavatula, Exim Management Services (Customs Broker) and EIC Event Coordinator, along with Mr O. P. Gupta, Director, GRT Shipmanagement Pvt. Ltd.
They shared their views on Future Cargo Deliveries, Challenges for Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders in light of E-Sanchit and Advance Manifestation process being implemented by Indian Customs, long-term views on digital transformation and future of digital shipping architecture, role of Digital Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders, Value of Digitisation and its effects on LSP stakeholders and where does the change lie—with Policymakers or Individuals?
Mr Vivek Kele outlined the perceived threat of online digital freight forwarders and pricing platforms which have been a cause for concern, while stressing that it is important to focus on developing tailor-made solutions guaranteeing good service, which will guarantee continuous sales growth as well as satisfied customers. Mr Nimesh Desai shared the fast-changing digitisation scenario rolled out by Indian Customs, highlighting it is for all of us to accept this change and adopt technology and process automation into our day-to-day activities, which is the only way forward.
Mr O. P. Gupta informed that current software missed the basic process and business intelligence required for automation and this needs to be addressed for increasing efficiency of the user (trade member), while Mr Srikant Bhagavatula pointed out that present systems available work on a Funnel Concept by catering to a few entities and more of a document exchange which is actually not reducing duplication of data. While at the same time, there is an urgent need for initiating a multilevel IT infrastructure to usher in “e-Shipping”. Mr Anand Paranjape, moderating the panel discussion, concluded that major limitation of “Data Duplication” at all stages of the shipment process is to be addressed and this should be the focus of software companies.
The points raised at the panel discussion were well-explained in a detailed presentation by Odex India Solutions, highlighting their new Single Blockchain KYC Platform along with new features being introduced into the trade in support of ease of doing business and digital transformation of the LSP industry. They explained how 55 per cent of VGM filed on their platform facilitated same data for Form 13, and this is just the basic of what they provide, the release said.
Using data management, they explained various advantages of virtual account for Delivery Order payment, where a Customs broker or freight forwarder can summarise entire payment for the day to various lines and pay at single click through the virtual account, which will reflect instantly to shipping lines registered with Odex, with Delivery Order getting processed through eDo.
This leads to saving in time and effort while eliminating the need for follow-up, updating payments in each of lines’ forms and web, etc. Similarly for CFS/Yard, payments and invoice processing help import coordinators in saving time and valuable resources. Most importantly, with these services, uniform data is used by all lines, helping to maintain a set standard across the industry.
Felicitating industry seniors
Felicitating industry seniors for their lifetime contribution to trade, Mr Shambhu Singh, President, EIC Mumbai, felicitated Capt. Dinesh Gautama, Director, Navkar Corporation Ltd, by presenting “Lifetime Contribution to Trade” memento, while Mr Lingaraj Sahu, EIC Mumbai Panel Member, felicitated Mr S. N. Maharana, Retired Chief Manager (Traffic), JNPT, which was followed by a group photo with the EIC Mumbai Panel Team with them in the centre as a mark of respect.
EIC Mumbai also invited EIC founder panel members from Pune along with EIC Delhi and EIC Kolkata. Mr Manish Verma, Director, WWL India Pvt. Ltd, and Mr Jagajit Singh, Director, JMR Freight Forwarder Pvt. Ltd, represented EIC Delhi and Kolkata, respectively, committing to host their 1st get-together in their respective cities for promoting EIC for the benefit of all.
Praise for EIC
EIC’s activities were acknowledged and praised by industry stalwarts like Mr Nityam Khosla, Immediate Past President, CAI and Director, Teamglobal Logistics, Mr Raaj L. Jobanputra, Director, JWR Logistics Pvt. Ltd, Ms Kruti Jobanputra, JWC Logistics Park Pvt. Ltd, Capt. Dinesh Gautama, Director, Navkar Corporation Pvt. Ltd, Mr Om Prakash Agrawal, Nagarkot Forwarders Pvt. Ltd, Mr George Joseph, Past President, BCBA and Director, Ashte Logistics Pvt. Ltd, Mr Vivek Kele, Director, Teamglobal Logistics, Mr Vinit Shetty, Director, Business Development, Odex India Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Mr Vinod Sharma, Treasurer, FFFAI, Mr Pradeep Kale, President, Pune Customs House Agents Association (PCHAA), and Mr Rajdeepak Bhargava, Vice-Chairman, The Foreign Trade Regulations Committee of MCCIA and Founder-President, Pune Custom House Agents Association.
All of them unanimously stated, “EIC is an excellent initiative to bring in all stakeholders on a single platform for creating awareness, building trust and transparency as well as creating business opportunities for all stakeholders. This is the need of the hour and the way forward to the collective growth of the LSP trade.” EIC founder Mr Anand Paranjape and Mumbai Panel Member Mr Shambu Singh stated, “This is a proud moment for all of us—pan-India EIC team, to have been acknowledged for our efforts and boosting our morale to continue the good work. We are only halfway through, and there is still a lot of work to do going forward.”
The event was supported by leading players from the industry.
The event was hosted and coordinated by Mr Srikant Bhagavatula of EIC, Mumbai Panel.
