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Monday June 3rd, 2019

This newsletter is inspired by my latest research analysis report on Connected Next Generation Post-Harvest Logistics in Emerging Countries.

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INFRASTRUCTURE

CHINESE PORT COMPANIES INK INDONESIAN, DJIBOUTI AND GERMAN AGREEMENTS
April 30, 2019 - Seatrade Maritime News
At the recent second Belt and Road Forum, Seatrade Maritime News reports that Chinese companies continued to add port agreements across multiple continents. Agreements vary and include many project areas as port upgrades, development of multi-model transportation, and more.
http://www.seatrade-maritime.com/news/asia/chinese-port-companies-ink-indonesian-djibouti-and-german-agreements.html

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TECHNOLOGY

GLOBE TRACKER ENABLES IOT ON REEFERS FOR DOLE
May 22, 2019 - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide is reporting that Dole Food Company, one of the world's largest fresh fruit growers and distributors, has deployed IoT devices on its reefer containers from IoT tracking and monitoring firm,Globe Tracker. The solution and platform application is said to help Dole work towards providing consistent product quality and enhance shipping visibility across its supply chain.
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/globe-tracker-enables-iot-on-reefers-for-dole/

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REFRIGERATED TRANSPORT

ISUZU EAST AFRICA INTRODUCES COLD CHAIN LOGISTICS VEHICLES TO ENABLE FARMERS TRANSPORT PERISHABLE PRODUCE

April 12, 2019 - FarmBiz Africa
FarmBiz Africa reports that vehicle assembler Isuzu East Africa (Isuzu EA) has partnered with vehicle accessories suppliers Sai Raj and Specialized Fibre Glass in Kenya to offer locally assembled Cold Chain logistics vehicles. These vehicles are targeted towards supporting farmers, hoteliers, and retailers, and are expected to reduce fresh produce losses from farms to market. Isuzu EA estimates local market production potential for 2,000 cold storage vehicles each year.
http://farmbizafrica.com/markets/16-local/2623-isuzu-east-africa-introduces-cold-chain-logistics-vehicles-to-enable-farmers-transport-perishable-produce

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COLD STORAGE

SLCM’S MYANMAR ARM GETS $3 MILLION FROM IFC
April 10, 2019 - The Hindu BusinessLine

The Hindu BusinessLine reports that, in a press statement, the Myanmar subsidiary of Sohan Lal Comodity Management (SLCM), a Delhi-based agri-logistics firm, is said to have received a $3 million loan from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to expand its warehousing services in Myanmar. The move, as noted, replicates best practices developed in agriculture warehousing and helps in reducing country post-harvest losses. According to research firm Frost & Sullivan, SLCM manages a pan India network of technology enabled warehouses and cold storages handing more than 157 agri commodities.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-agri-biz-and-commodity/article26788378.ece

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POLICY & REGULATORY

AFRICAN COUNTRIES NEED TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE AT TRANSPORT CORRIDORS FOR THE AFCFTA TO WORK – BOLLORE LOGISTICS CEO, THIERRY EHRENBOGEN

April 11, 2019 - Ventures Africa

On the sidelines of the recent Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Bollore Logistics CEO, Thierry Ehrenbogen spoke with Ventures Africa on some of the challenges facing logistics on the African Continent. The conversation highlights the need for African Union member countries to enhance transportation on the African Continent and includes areas as developing intra-African road networks to alleviate long wait times during transport of cargo from a land-locked country to a port in another, as well as digitizing logistics for continent-wide integration. Such measures, Ventures Africa reports, are seen as relevant steps needed to address prior to beginning implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
http://venturesafrica.com/african-countries-need-to-facilitate-transit-at-transport-corridors-for-the-afcfta-to-work-bollore-logistics-ceo-thierry-ehrenbogen/

PRIMER: INDIA'S NEW FDI E-COMMERCE RULES

March 21, 2019 - International Financial Law Review

The International Financial Law Review reports on India's recent policy changes to foreign direct investment (FDI) within the e-commerce sector. These rules, effective February 1, 2019, present marketplace entities with inventory restrictions as they relate to ownership or control. Previously, under the automatic route, 100% FDI was permitted for purchase of bulk products at high discounts which were then sold to vendors at a discount for resale. The article provides some background and insight on the new e-commerce rule.
https://www.iflr.com/Article/3865145/PRIMER-Indias-new-FDI-e-commerce-rules.html?ArticleId=3865145

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INVESTMENTS

CHINA’S VC INVESTMENTS IN INDIAN START-UPS HIT $5.6 BILLION IN 2018

March 23, 2019 - The Hindu BusinessLine
The Hindu BusinessLine reports that despite the worsening geopolitical situation between India and China, investments in India from Chinese venture capital funds continue to grow exponentially. Citing data by research and analytics platform Tracxn, China's VC investment into the the Indian start-up ecosystem has reportedly increased five-fold at $5.6 billion in 2018, as compared to previous two years. Among the sectors attracting highest funds are logistics, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI).
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-news/article26615845.ece

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