On 24 April in Mumbai, India, the 1st CCTT/FFFAI ‘India-And-World’ Business Forum took place.

The co-organizers of the Forum were the International Coordinating Council on Trans-Eurasian Transportation (CCTT) and the Federation of Freight Forwarding Associations of India (FFFAI).

The purpose and goal of the event is establishing and strengthening partnerships, promoting the logistics services of CCTT and FFFAI member companies in the international transport market, enhancing efforts in developing the North-South International Transport Corridor.

The Forum was opened by Mr. Shri Dushyant Mulani, Chairman, FFFAI, Mr. Shankar Shinde, I.P. Chairman, FFFAI, Mr. Gennady Bessonov, Secretary General, CCTT.

The event was attended by plenipotentiary representatives of the stake holding ministries and departments of Russia, India and Europe, heads of leading production, railway, shipping, transport and logistics companies and seaports (over 120 people).

During the event, issues related to the optimisation of logistics processes for the transportation of goods in connection with India were discussed, as well as successful intermodal container services and promising international infrastructure and integration projects were presented.

In the framework of the Forum the session of the CCTT Work Group on Maritime Logistics was held, where new line services were presented, as well as issues of entering the Indian market, shipping development and international settlements for cargo transportation with India were discussed. The session was attended by FESCO Group, Oasis Shipping India, Sarjak Container Line, AsstrA Forwarding AG, Sber Bank India, Gazprombank, VTB Bank, Credit and Commerce International (BCCI).

The Forum’s ‘India as Key Player in Global Economy’ Plenary Session brought together representatives of Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, Russian Embassy in India, RZD OJSC, FESCO Group, Mumbai Port Authority, FIEO, ASSOCHAM, REC JSC in India, RTSB India, ASORPS, Federal State Enterprise “Security of Railway Transport of the Russian Federation.”

The Forum was honoured by the participation of Mr. Shri Sanjay Swarup, Chairman and Managing Director of Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), Mr. Shri Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, Mr. Shri Unmesh Sharad Wagh, IRS, Deputy Chairman & Chairman - In Charge, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Mr. Shri Rajiv Jalota, IAS, Chairman, Mumbai Port Authority, Chairman of IPA (All Indian Major Ports).

In line with a number of practical results of the Forum, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between All India Industrialists Association (AiAi), CCTT and FESCO Group was organized within the official ceremony, encouraging and promoting cooperation between the three Organisations in the field of trilateral trade, investments, technology transfers, joint ventures and collaborations.

The client-oriented event of FESCO Group, hosted by the Forum, presented the geography of transport products and line services in connection with India to local freight owners and consignors. It resulted in new agreements, contractual arrangements and partnerships.

The participants and guests of the event noted the importance of comprehensive cooperation with CCTT and FFFAI, establishing and strengthening partnerships with CCTT member companies in the international transport market, enhancing efforts in developing the North-South International Transport Corridor, and expressed unanimous consent on the annual status of the Forum to be organized on a regular basis.