FedEx Ramps Up India

     “We think that the India story is really much bigger, the future is bright and we aim to make it brighter. “This is an exciting time to be here and be part of this amazing economic transformation,” said Robert W. Elliott, President, FedEx Express, Europe, Middle East and Africa.
    Elliott should know. Barely a month ago, in September to be precise, in keeping with the spirit of the times, FedEx had announced a new eastbound around-the-world flight.
    This time around, Elliott announced new service expansions in India.
    The moves would connect more of India to the world and provide customers with enhanced transit and cut-off times, increased capacity and faster and more flexible access to the global marketplace.
    The new expansion moves were in addition to the flight announced a month ago, that connected the U.S., Europe, India, China and Japan providing enhanced access to and from the world’s fastest-growing markets of India and China.
    It was most certainly in response to that earlier flight that prompted FedEx to seize the opportunity and announce the new Indian services.
    Through these expansions FedEx operates the largest number of international flights of any express carrier in India and is the first international express carrier to have two gateways in India: Mumbai and Delhi.
    Jacques Creeten, (pictured here) FedEx’s MD sales and marketing, Middle East, Indian sub-continent and Africa, told FlyingTypers in no uncertain terms:
    “FedEx is the first air express company to establish direct international air routes in India and our commitment is to provide our customers with a superior international express service, with maximum connectivity by air.”
    “The package of service announcements announced yesterday (October 20) will help us do this, no matter where a small, medium or multinational company is located in the country.
    “We have always responded first to the needs of Indian exporters and this new service will facilitate trade between the two Asian giants that are poised to re-shape the world economic order.”
    FedEx said it will also be expanding service availability of FedEx International Priority Freight, FedEx International Express Freight and FedEx International Priority options for valuables and dangerous goods to more markets through its new trucking network.
    The new network has been scheduled in such a manner to allow later pickup times from all key markets, which in turn will provide additional manufacturing or production time.
    As a result of this expansion, the logistics giant leads the express industry with almost 3,500 people working for FedEx and its contractors, 250 FedEx branded retail outlets and a transportation system connecting 4,348 cities and towns across India to its global distribution network.
    On November 1, FedEx adds five new weekly flights from Delhi westbound bringing total number of weekly MD-11 flights to 16. Tonnage uplift adds up to 900 tons of incremental capacity to and from Delhi while the total capacity to and from India is put at 2,100 tons.
    In addition, the company, which already had the most number of clearance gateways from Indian cities, is increasing the number to 15.
    “This”, said Elliott, “allows us to get closer to where our customers work and serve them in their own language.”
    Among the other initiatives announced was the improvement in transit time by one day for all Delhi and northwest India locations.
    FedEx has also doubled its branded retail presence to 74 outlets in 54 cities.
    Together with Pafex, FedEx’s Global Service Participant, the company has 250 retail outlets now.
    Bullish about India, FedEx was the first to swoop in on the growing markets of Asia.
    Speaking about the expansion plans, Robert Elliott told FlyingTypers, that the kind of economic revolution taking place in India,” doesn’t happen overnight.
    “It comes only through preparation, vision and leadership”.
    “The growth of the Indian economy is nothing short of spectacular.
    “It’s become a topic of conversation in boardrooms around the world.”
    Currently, India is the third most preferred destination for foreign investment after China and the U.S.
    It was in tune with India’s growth that FedEx ushered in its expansion plans.
    Elliott put it rather aptly when he said that FedEx has often been “looked upon as a predictor of trends in business and trade, which is why we were the first express carrier to make a significant investment in India through our air network.”
    “FedEx,” said Elliott, “continues to build upon that initial investment.
    “As India is poised to take a leading role on the world’s stage as an economic superpower, “we don’t want to be just part of it, we want to help make it happen.”
T Ghosh