It
might just well be the next blue-eyed sector in India. With investments in the
line of $1 trillion, the logistics sector is definitely gearing up as JVs, PE
players, cross-border acquisitions, strategic investments and even universities
foray into the hitherto ignored and complex sector.
As the
country awaits its first
free trade warehousing zone
(FTWZ) in Mumbai to start operations from May 23, experts are upbeat this may
well transform the landscape of the country. The Indian market is growing and
exports are looking up too, reasons Vishwas Udgirkar, executive director with
PwC. “India is touted to be a manufacturing hub and its success will depend
upon logistics support. So it’s a logical step to develop the sector. FTWZ and
logistics parks will completely change the landscape, as there is a very strong
demand for modern warehousing facilities. People are watching the FTWZ rollout
very closely, and its success will open floodgates in the sphere,” he adds.
Recently,
Vision India Real Estate announced its plans to develop logistics parks in
Bangalore and Chennai with an $110-million outlay. The company has reportedly
claimed that 60% of the warehouse space in both the parks had already been booked.
KPMG
estimates that logistic costs in India contribute to 13% of the GDP while they
are only about 8% in developed countries. Reducing logistic costs by 1% of the
GDP translates to savings of over $7.5 billion.
Manish
Saigal, executive director & head (transportation and logistics), KPMG,
explains these figures give a good indication of the level of inefficiency in
the sector in India. “As a lot of logistics will be outsourced, third party
logistics will add fuel to the sector. Government investment in infrastructure,
coupled with regulations such as GST will help standardise movement. A blessing
in disguise will be the entry of MNCs that will bring along their best
practices and make it an intensely focused market. And the sheer demand led by
a resilient domestic market and exim trade, will naturally make the sector
extremely attractive,” he adds. To cash in on the opportunity and augment its
freight revenues, Indian Railways is working on a draft policy to expand
development of automobile and ancillary hubs and help auto manufacturers carry
their traffic by rail in bulk. The hubs will assist in secondary distribution.
Source:
The Financial Express 25/5/10
