RAHAT TALREJA LEADS CSS INDIA AS VICE PRESIDENT

cssI was just back from New York after my stint as National Route Development Manager for Tigers Worldwide Logistics (formerly known as Kamino International) when I decided that I wanted to stay back in India and build my career here.  

 At the same time, the CSS Group was rolling out its expansion plans across India. That’s when I was awarded the opportunity to be part of the core management team in 2007. 

A Journey of 14 years

My initial days were spent traveling across the length and breadth of India and also overseas. From meeting clients and agents to attendings logistics events, conferences, and seminars to establish our presence and service capabilities both within and outside India with our various product verticals. From building local teams and orienting them on work ethics, business process flow, data management, risk management, cultural quotient, and emotional discipline. 

I was able to instill within the teams the power of being low key, business performance over public performance, ability to challenge oneself, reconstructing your benchmarks without bothering about the competition, importance of training, and altering business strategy to suit the macro environment. 

All these aspects have become a part of my daily work life till today!

Change is the Only Constant

The 1990s, 2000s, the 2010s, and now 2021 have depicted different characteristics. The pace of change has accelerated. Every ten months, the world is changing now, which happened at a slower pace with a ten-year earlier gap. Also, work is abundant, so work should be co-related to resource deployment because, unlike work, resources always have limitations for individual organizations. 

The Shipping Business Dynamics

The shipping business is 60% a legal business governed by a framework of rules, regulations, documents, checks, and balances, which define roles and duties with financial liabilities for each person involved in a transaction. The remaining 40% is capital allocation. What you allocate, to whom with what risk, what return, working capital cycle, transition risk.

Therefore, it’s a marriage of capital risk with legal risk. In this scenario, the crux of any management’s thinking should be to manage these two pillars most effectively. 

Aligned to Organizational Objectives

If anything, people cause one to defocus from the core goals. Too many opinions and too many varying views can easily make one go astray. You may hire a very seasoned FCL salesperson but whether he aligns with your own goals is a different topic. We must listen to everyone but do what you have to, especially when you are clear on our organizational objectives. I always believe money in the pocket is money. Rest all of it is an act of circular jugglery.

Vision for CSS India

The vision for CSS India is to be the best in class in all financial parameters. From ROCE, ROE, EBIDTA margin, PAT margin, working capital days, and zero NPA along with high standards of tax and legal compliance, which is always our thrust. We do not believe in taking short cuts, a norm in the Indian market. Our Group Chairman’s unhindered support and faith enable us to achieve this level of financial fitness.

With freight rates having quadrupled and the capital cycle adding another 30-60 days extra, the capital requirements will increase to more than five-time soon. We need to use it efficiently! 

If you make a crore by deploying a crore, you know the job. If you make a crore by deploying five crores, you need to be oriented, but if you make a crore by deploying ten crores, you need to be in Japan. This is my message to my team.

PROJECTS AT CSS

Team Projects at CSS started the year 2021 by completing a heat exchanger to DDP Houston. The scope of work awarded was to move the shipment from the manufacturer yard up to the door in Houston, USA. Though the weight and dimensions were smaller compared to the earlier piece, this move also required smooth coordination to ensure safe load out. The cargo was 60 Tons in weight and with 8.80 x 2.36 x 3.23m(lxbxh) as dimensions. 

The first part of the Hamriya Free Zone loadout, including the customs documentation, was handled very smoothly by our branch CSS Kingston at Hamriya free zone. Our in-house lashing & crating department got into action to ensure cargo is well lashed and secured without damaging the cargo. The documentation team at Jebel Ali ensured all formalities were completed for the smooth loading of the cargo out of terminal one at Jebel Ali port. The cargo completed full loading & lashing operations on the 1st January 2021 onboard vessel MSC NAVARINO.

“We were in very close coordination with the carrier MSC & Dubai ports authority, and we thank them for all their support. This, combined with great effort by all at the projects division & team CSS, ensured a smooth and seamless operation.” Commented Mr. Arun P, Manager operations at Projects Division

CSS OUTPERFORMS ON DELIVERY FOR UAE-GOVERNMENT OIL PROJECT IN ABU DHABI

cssAbu Dhabi has confirmed the massive discovery of oil which amounts to 22 billion stock tank barrels (STB) of unconventional oil resources, located onshore. Announced in the presence of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the oil discovery exceeds some of Abu Dhabi’s major fields in terms of resources. 

It has been approved to award exploration blocks in Abu Dhabi to position UAE as a leader in the oil resources. This discovery will further strengthen the UAE’s role as a resource holder with high-quality crude grades, underpinning its position as a reliable energy provider to the world.

cssRecently, CSS has been able to provide seamless logistics for an oil project by a UAE-government entity in Abu Dhabi. On the 25th of November 2020, CSS was commissioned to deliver oil field equipment weighing 60 tons in total. 

This significant project involved the collection of the valves from Scotland, UK and to be delivered to Musaffah, Abu Dhabi. The shipment was carried in a dedicated Charter flight via Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

cssDelivering within the specified timeline was the vital aspect of this project. The CSS team strategically planned every detail of the operations smoothening out any hassle and delays caused by bottlenecks. Planned to perfection, as always CSS exceeded expectations by delivering the cargo to Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi much before the deadline stipulated by the client. The final phase of this project was completed in December 2020.    

THE CONGESTED COLOMBO PORT – A BLESSING IN DISGUISE FOR COCHIN PORT TRUST

With the congestion at the Colombo ports growing by leaps and bounds, the Cochin Port authorities expect several mainline vessels to anchor at the Cochin Port Trust shortly. 

The first ship to have entered the Cochin Port Trust waters was the S.S.Padma (a coastal ship of the Bombay Steam Navigation Co.) on 26 May 1928. Since then, the Cochin Port Trust has been expanding to meet the trade requirements of the region. 

The latest anchoring at the inner harbor of the Cochin Port Trust was of the 366.5-meter ship, Maersk Edinburgh. This mainline vessel of the 2M Alliance was berthed at the International Container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam under the US East Coast Service. 

Another fact accorded to this ship is that it belongs to 13568 TEU Container Capacity Vessels that are among the largest class of ships called at Indian Ports. With the ongoing congestion at the Colombo Port, the mainline will benefit in two aspects. The benefits include lower logistics costs as well as lower transit time of cargo.

Interestingly, trade sources all point out that Colombo congestion has turned out to be an opportunity for the Kochi ports. This has promoted the trans-shipment business following the diversion of ships. This directly boosts Kochi’s image in handling the transshipment of cargoes

UAE – THE EPICENTER FOR COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION

cssAbu Dhabi ports is playing “a vital” role in the global fight against COVID-19. With one of the region’s largest ultra-modern pharmaceutical logistics facilities now operational, the port is poised to undertake the storage and distribution of more than 70 million vaccines. 

Abu Dhabi Ports has dedicated a 19,000 square meter temperature-controlled warehouse facility in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), which already houses more than 1 million vials of the vaccine. The facility has the capability to store vaccines and other pharmaceutical products at a range of 2 to 8 degrees as well as the more extreme range of -80 degrees. 

The Hope Consortium- Helping the World Get Through This Global Pandemic

Abu Dhabi is spearheading the launch of the Hope Consortium. This UAE-based public-private partnership includes the Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Etihad Cargo, Rafed, the healthcare purchasing arm of Abu Dhabi-based ADQ, and SkyCell of Switzerland. The Hope Consortium represents a complete supply chain solution to address vaccine transport, demand planning, sourcing, training, and digital technology infrastructure and facilitate vaccine availability worldwide. 

It will offer international governments, non-governmental organizations, and vaccine suppliers a cohesive solution across every supply chain step – from air freight, regional storage and temperature monitoring, inventory management, cold and ultra-cold container solution, and regulatory clearance and healthcare and pharma quality assurance.

Consortium partners already have extensive expertise in the global delivery of millions of COVID-19 related items, such as personal protective equipment, diagnostics consumables, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals.

Distribution of the vaccines, which will be stored in Abu Dhabi Ports Company facilities, will be carried out by Etihad Cargo. The national carrier will leverage its extensive intercontinental network, fleet, and charter flights to supply vaccines globally. Etihad Cargo has outstanding pharmaceutical logistics expertise and specialized pharma and healthcare service, PharmaLife, and the IATA CEIV Pharma certified product to facilitate temperature-sensitive cargo between +250C and -800C.

Rated has already managed large volume products before and during the pandemic for the UAE and humanitarian initiatives. With this collaboration, it can consolidate its efforts to meet the challenges of distributing sensitive pharmaceuticals quickly to global partners in the public and healthcare sectors.

The transportation of vaccines will be done using SkyCell’s hybrid containers. These storage and transportation containers are secured through an IoT monitoring service that tracks temperature conditions to ensure sensitive vaccines are protected even under extreme conditions. These containers maintain steady temperatures for an average of 202 hours (8.4 days) and self-recharge automatically in a cooling chamber or reefer truck.

Amid an anticipated surge in vaccine logistics, this collective expertise will garner a multi-faceted capability to provide seamless logistical solutions.

Abu Dhabi – A Local, Regional, and Global Distribution Hub For COVID-19 Vaccines

KIZAD has one of the largest cold chain and ultra-cold storing in the region and enables the UAE’s drive to spearhead global immunization efforts that will positively impact millions of lives. The vaccine storage processes with the international best practices governing the long-term storage of pharmaceutical products will ensure vaccines’ efficiency. Such a robust solution is necessary because the vaccines are composed of genetic and protein ingredients and must be stored in optimal temperatures for the longest possible period to ensure their efficacy when administered.

Abu Dhabi Ports is ready to play a leading role in the end-to-end supply chain, including storing, processing, and distributing this extremely sensitive product. These facilities at the Abu Dhabi port will leverage its capabilities as an innovation epicenter serving the Middle East and wider world through Abu Dhabi as a supply chain gateway connecting East and West.

Moreover, with two-thirds of the world’s human footprint within a four-hour flight of Abu Dhabi, the investment in technological expertise and world-class infrastructure facilities means it can serve as a global logistical hub too, and for, the world.

SAP’s Vaccine Collaboration Hub (VCH)

SAP has opened a vaccine collaboration hub in Dubai to manage vaccine supply and distribution. SAP’s VCH is built on the SAP Information Collaboration Hub for Life Sciences. It covers the end-to-end process from manufacturing to controlled distribution to administration and post-vaccine monitoring.

Businesses that are part of the vaccine production process, from manufacturers, logistics service providers, and pharmacy companies to wholesalers and dispensers, can run their critical vaccine processes on SAP software.

COVID-19 has put much pressure on the life sciences industry. To bridge the large gap in their supply chain strategy in this industry, SAP’s VCH is a one-stop-shop for the life sciences industry to manage their vaccination procedures and tap into a source of suppliers, even those across industries.

The VCH, part of SAP’s industry cloud strategy, provides the critical network and technology capabilities required to deploy large-scale vaccination programs and drug distribution effectively.

SAP has designed the VCH as an extension to its business network and will support organizations in managing vaccine supply distribution better and helping governments and their industry partners coordinate and successfully carry out mass vaccination programs.

Also, the VCH provides a backbone to better mitigate such emergencies in the future.

cssAir Cargo – In Full Throttle for COVID – 19 Distribution

Governments worldwide have a tall order of reaching the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna to the masses. In turn, this means that logistics firms have a “mission of a lifetime” with distributing these vaccines.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released guidance to ensure that the air cargo industry is ready to support the large-scale handling, transport, and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. IATA’s Guidance for Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Logistics and Distribution provides recommendations for governments and the logistics supply chain undertakings. The Guidance lines have been prepared in collaborations with a broad range of partners, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), UK Civil Aviation Authority, World Bank, World Customs Organization (WCO) and World Trade Organization (WTO).

The crucial points addressed in IATA’s Guidance for Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Logistics and Distribution are:

  1. To ensure availability of temperature-controlled storage facilities even in such places where such facility is absent.
  2. The chart down the roles, tasks, and responsibilities of vaccine distributors, government authorities, and NGOs.
  3. Re-open borders without quarantine to re-establish air connectivity to ensure adequate capacity is available for vaccine distribution.
  4. Ultra-cold chain facilities across the supply chain to be made available and trained staff to handle time- and temperature-sensitive vaccines. 
  5. Timely regulatory approvals, fast-track clearance by customs and health authorities.
  6. Swift and efficient procedures for overflight and landing permits for operations carrying the COVID-19 vaccine.
  7. Tariff relief to facilitate the movement of the vaccine. 
  8. High level of security to ensure that shipments remain safe from tampering and theft.

These guidelines are in keeping with international standards and procedures related to the transport of vaccines. It will be updated regularly as information is made available to the industry. IATA has also established a joint information-sharing forum for stakeholders. The massive volume of vaccine shipments will require early planning, and this guidance material is important to ensure that they are scalable. 

The complex task of delivering billions of doses of a vaccine, storing it in a deep-frozen state, distributing it to the entire world efficiently will be one of the largest and most complex global logistics operations ever undertaken!

OUR NEEDED PAUSE

cssNine months ago, we touched the “pause” button on our own lives and business as we knew it. What changes did we have to make to keep going? What has changed around us, and how have we adapted to this new environment? And most importantly, what did we learn from our pause, how have our own behaviors changed, and can we apply these moving forward?

This is a lot to ponder. But we’ll need to because vaccines are on their way, and slowly the world will resume activity again. For me personally, I will enter this new world with a fresh perspective and enhanced strategies when it comes to our industry of Freight Forwarding.

With domestic and international travel halted company-wide, we stopped visiting customers in person as we used to do all week long. No more interacting with our colleagues at the office or meetings with our vendors, no more waking up to catch up an early flight, no more waiting in the lobby for our appointments to show up, no more staying in traffic for hours to get to our meetings.

We were forced to rethink the way we have always conducted our daily activity. Working from home or a remote location for hours on end took a lot of self-discipline, organization, and time management skills at a level that many of us may not have had. It was a new professional environment, and we were forced to adapt.

Our typical ways of approaching new clients and performing sales calls required imagination; a change of strategy was necessary to be able to differentiate ourselves from our competition and find a way to continue to WIN and gain market share. In the absence of face-to-face meetings, we’ve had to focus more on the basics, which often get overlooked; understanding our customers better and learning about their structure, business, and vendors. We had to go into every phone call or zoom meeting, armed with knowledge and facts. We’ve had to develop better communication skills with our customers and our professional colleagues within our own organization. We had time to put together internal strategies prior to calls and quickly do follow-up after each one. 

Being in a pandemic together provided a newfound empathy for each other. Kindness was imperative, and respect was needed at all times. We understood that we were each going through our own struggles, and yet we were all in the same boat. We have learned to listen, to take time for each other, and to get to know each other better. Empathy, respect, and kindness are qualities we need more of in this very competitive and busy world, and hopefully, we all developed more of these. I know I have.

Regarding productivity, we have learned that we do not need to keep ourselves busy nonstop to be relevant during these new times. We have learned we can be just as efficient – and much more – using all the new technologies available to us, such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. We have learned that quantity is not always synonymous with quality. For me, this additional time gained has given me the possibility to spend more time with my family, to value what is precious in life and to truly understand what is important. You cannot be good at your job if you do not properly balance both work and family.

For me, and I hope for all of you, that you are able to see the value in this “pause.” We learned a lot about ourselves and the simple value in doing things in a different way. 

In a few months, we hope that life will begin to resemble that which we knew before. But as we yearn for things to get back to normal, Let’s not fall into our old ways. Let’s take this time to understand how we can change our daily activity moving forward. Work more efficiently. Be smarter about how we use our time. Take time to connect with each other and with our customers. And on a larger scale we can use this “pause” to help us better understand what our purpose is, and how we define our goals in our professional and personal lives.

Let’s not waste these lessons and come back to our old habits. Let’s apply what we have all learned at every level during this time, and let’s try to make this place we call Earth a better world.

Sometimes we just need a “pause.”

Stay safe and be well.

INDIA-CLMV BUSINESS CONCLAVE 2020: BUILDING BRIDGES FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT

The Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. V. Muraleedharan, suggested that Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV countries) join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Resilient Supply Chain Initiative (RSCI). 

Both India and the CLMV region are actively involved in innovating renewable energy sources and partnerships to penetrate global value chains. 

This new alliance could help promote connectivity to boost trade with the region. The CLMV region within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises its newest, lowest income, and formerly closed-economy members spoke V Muraleedharan, the Minister of State for External Affairs. The Minister was speaking at the Índia-CLMV Business Conclave 2020 – “Building Bridges for Constructive Development” organized by the Commerce & Industry Ministry and the industry body, Confederation of Indian Industries, CII. 

Regarding India’s cooperation with the CLMV region on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister stated that India provided medicines and medical supplies to the region and provided trained medical personnel under the I -TEC scheme. According to a statement from the CII, the Minister remarked, “India seeks to enhance its cooperation and collaboration with the CLMV region in terms of developing a vaccine for COVID 19 and is willing to share the vaccine as and when it is ready.”

The Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Mr. Guruprasad Mohapatra, highlighted the need to promote connectivity with the CLMV region and emphasize its rail networks be strengthened to help promote tourism in the Buddhist circuit. 

He emphasized, “Efforts are underway to operationalize vital infrastructure links between CLMV countries and India for better economic integration. The Trilateral Highway, connecting India, Myanmar, and Thailand, will serve as a lifeline for India’s Mekong and North-East region. Proposals are currently underway to extend the highway to Laos.”

The Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Lao People’s Republic, Khemmani Pholsena, stressed that India and the CLMV countries need to work together to improve agriculture productivity, promote infrastructure development within the region and enhance the ease of doing business by promoting trade facilitation. She also reiterated that IT, renewable energy, drugs, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure development needed attention in close detail.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chhuon Dara, the Secretary of State, Ministry of Commerce from the Kingdom of Cambodia, spoke about the need to improve trade facilitation, logistics availability, and the creation of a single-window clearance mechanism to help boost trade between India and the region. India also needs to support the CLMV countries in the e-commerce and digital economy fields and promote regional energy connectivity.

CARGO CARRIER AIRBRIDGECARGO DELIVERS THE FIRST LOT OF VACCINES FOR GLOBAL TRIALS

cssCargo carrier AirBridgeCargo (ABC) by the Volga Dnepr Group, in partnership with UPS, has successfully transported CanSino’s COVID 19 vaccines from Beijing. These vaccines are intended for global clinical trials. 

Casper Pan of ABC said, “After months of preparations, we are stepping into the COVID-19 vaccine transportation phase to deliver these sophisticated pharmaceutical products. The whole world relies on these vaccines as a source that will help us get back to normal. It is a defining moment for our company and the Global Healthcare Team”.

The cargo carrier AirBridgeCargo (ABC) reconfirmed its CIEV IATA certification last year and has been actively involved in the transportation of other vaccines and vaccine-related shipments, including vials and injections. This year the Boeing 747 freighter carried 6000 doses of the Ad5-nCoV vaccine weighing 400 kg at 2-8°C temperatures, therefore completing its first consignment of COVID 19 vaccines.

2020 A YEAR OF CHANGE AND CHALLENGE

cssNo one in their wildest dreams imagined at the end of 2019, what the onrushing train of 2020 would bring. 2020 was always touted to be known as one of the important years with some great historic changes expected to take place all across the globe but with the natural disasters, the pandemic, the worldwide lockdown, massive recession; the Geospatial World called this year as the “ worst year ever seen”.

The big hope was that 2020 would be THE year for profitability and sustainability. But in a matter of weeks, it had to be put on a back-burner as survival became the top priority. A United Nations progress report published in December 2020 indicated that none of the international Sustainable Development Goals for 2020 were achieved. The entire year of 2020 passed by the COVID- 19 pandemic which has led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the World War 2.

But before we bid goodbye to this unprecedented year, it is essential to make sense of the developments which tested the world and its people. We started the year worrying about the possibility of World War III and ended up facing bigger troubles. A look back on the year that passed by like a gush of winds, below is the list of all the major events that we’ve endured this year.

AUSTRALIA BUSHFIRES AND WESTCOAST WILDFIRES

It began in September 2019 and continued to blaze in to the New Year as well. It was also called the “Black Summer” as it killed as many as 500 million animals, burned 47 million acres, displaced thousands of people and killed at least 34 people. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) were deployed to New South Wales to assist mass evacuation efforts.

Deadly wildfires erupted from California to Washington State, burning millions of acres and displacing hundreds of thousands of people since mid-August.

HARRY AND MEGHAN QUIT (MEGXIT)

On 8th  January 2020, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, made an announcement on their social media handle of their intention to “step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family”. Megxit came to signify the break by the couple from the British royal family and its former protocol and their plans for independence under their new brand, then tentatively named Sussex Royal.

COVID 19 PANDEMIC

As mentioned earlier this year has to be credited to the virus as it has ruled the roost and shaken up the entire world. It is an on-going pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in January 2020 and a pandemic in March 2020.

As of 27 December 2020, more than 80.3 million cases have been confirmed, with more than 1.75 million deaths attributed to COVID-19. The world woke up to a “new normal” with various preventive measures including social distancing, wearing face masks in public, ventilation and air-filtering, hand washing, covering one’s mouth when sneezing or coughing, disinfecting surfaces, and monitoring and self-isolation for people exposed or symptomatic.  The Coronavirus disease has impacted every segment of life like commercial establishment, education, economy, religion, transport, tourism, employment, entertainment, food security, sports, etc. The outbreak has become a major destabilizing threat to the global economy. Economist intelligence unit has forecast that markets will remain volatile until a clearer image emerges on the potential outcomes.

IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

Donald Trump became the third President in American history to be impeached on with a majority of Representatives voting in favour of the two articles of impeachment drawn up by House Democrats. The former President was accused of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, both connected with the Ukraine scandal. He was ultimately acquitted by the Senate on February 5.

BREXIT

After years of negotiations and drama, Brexit finally happened on January 31. The United Kingdom officially left the European Union but braced itself for yet more negotiations in the years to come. To date, the UK is the first and only country formally to leave the EU, after 47 years of membership within the bloc, after having first joined its predecessor, the European Communities (EC), on 1 January 1973.

VIOLENCE IN DELHI OVER CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT

India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was passed in late 2019, would allow people of certain religions from neighboring countries to become Indian citizens. However, Muslims were exempted from this, leading many to protest it for being “anti-Muslim.” Between February 22 and February 27, protests over the CAA led to communal violence in northeast Delhi, wherein mobs attacked Muslim neighbourhoods in a frenzied state. At least 53 people died in the violence.

BEIRUT EXPLOSION

On 4 August 2020, a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the port of the city of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, exploded, causing at least 204 deaths, 6,500 injuries, and US$15 billion in property damage, and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless. A cargo of 2,750 tonnes of the substance had been stored in a warehouse without proper safety measures for the past six years, the explosion was preceded by a fire in the same warehouse, but as of November 2020, the exact cause of the detonation is still under investigation.

BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST

The police-involved killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor this year sparked a wave of peaceful — and sometimes violent — demonstrations and riots across the world to demand an end to police brutality and racial injustice. African American George Floyd died on May 25 when a white policeman kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. Hundreds of people gathered outside the White House to protest against the police.

46TH PRESIDENT ELECTED IN USA

Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Nov. 7, defeating President Trump with a critical assist from his birth state, Pennsylvania, which delivered the votes to propel him to victory and end one of the most contentious elections in recent memory. Ms. Kamala Harris is the First female, the highest-ranking lady elected official in U.S. history, the first African American and the first Asian American Vice President.

KARACHI AND KERALA PLANE CRASH

In May, a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane carrying 99 people aboard crashed into a densely populated residential area near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. The crash killed 97 people while two passengers miraculously survived it.

On the 7th August, a repartition flight had crash landed at Calicut International Airport due to heavy rains and ended up skidding off the end of the tabletop runway killing 19 passengers and both pilots.

DEMISE OF POPULAR AND FAMOUS PERSONALITIES

Apart from the millions of people who lost their lives due to Covid-19 and other natural disasters all across the world, 2020 is that year where many known faces breathed their last including Kobe Bryant, Maradonna, SP Balasubraminam, Rishi Kapoor, Chadwick Boseman, Sugunthakumari, Irrfan Khan, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Pranab Mukherjee, Sushanth Singh Rajput and many more personalities.

2020 has been a roller coaster ride with the above events out of which some remain realities today, but others feel like such a lifetime ago, it’s hard to imagine that we had to deal with them in just the last 12 months. Though the year’s biggest events are mostly a series of depressing news, that doesn’t mean its all doom and gloom. Below is the list of the good part of 2020:

  1. Nature has completely healed while Human Activity was zero.
  2. After a dramatic postponement, the highly anticipated SpaceX Crew Dragon launch finally happened on May 30. 
  3. We have all learnt and accepted the new normal thus proving the fact that humans can adapt to any environment.
  4. In order to curb any further damage due to Covid 19, many Countries have done their best to create a safe and effective vaccine using their own resources.
  5. Though COVID 19 had primarily harmed senior citizens , there was a 103 year old grandmother who had beat the virus.
  6. Wild Animals Occupied the Streets when human movement had reduced.
  7. Parasite became the first foreign film to win at the Oscars.
  8. Work from home has benefitted companies by saving commuting time, increasing productivity, and creating a better work-life balance.
  9. Humanity became the need of the hour and that was the best realization of 2020.

2020 has been one of most tiring years that anybody has witnessed in our very comfortable lives. But in the midst of the tragedies there was courage, there was grace, there was sacrifice, there was hope—there were people who faced the worst rising up to be their very best. Few will recall the year just ending with anything close to fondness. But it will surely be recalled with no small measure of pride.

It was a Pleasure Writing Articles For The Light House Every Month And I Take This Opportunity To Congratulate CSS For Its 25th Anniversary. 

We’ve had a Great Journey Together and Hoping the Best in The Coming years. 

Along With my team at Callidus, I wish you a Happy Anniversary. 

All The Best for Many More Years Of Success!!!!.

CSS ENABLES THE MOVEMENT OF THE ICONIC FORD MUSTANG FROM JEA TO KOCHI

CSS has once again proved itself by providing top-notch logistic services for customers aiming at vehicle shipments across destinations across countries. As a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier, CSS possesses an inimitable combination of talent, resources, and partners across the globe.

The CSS Group’s Automobile Logistics division specializes in handling shipments of high-end vehicles. With large storage facilities and specialized racking of vehicles, CSS has become a trusted name in Auto Logistics.

CSS handled a single unit of the iconic performance car, Ford Mustang, from Jebel Ali to Cochin 19th Jan 2021. Ably managed by Mr. Bitto, the consignment was sent across under ATA Carnet.

What is the ATA Carnet?

While transporting vehicles across borders, the ATA Carnet is vital. The ATA Carnet is an international customs document that permits tax-free, duty-free temporary export and import of non-perishable goods within a year. This guarantee covers up the otherwise customary practice of paying the security deposit to customs authorities.

 

CSS Capability in Vehicle Movements

CSS arranges for door-to-door delivery of the vehicles under carnet, including the return shipment to Dubai within carnet validity and destination clearance, thus helping the customer have a smooth sail. CSS assures its customers no headaches and completely hassle-free shipments all the way through.

We have a proven track record of completing vehicular movements in the past as well. The year 2020 saw us helping the avid vlogger Shakir Subhan aka Mallu Traveler, reunite with his trusted steed, which he had to leave behind in Azerbaijan due to the pandemic.

CSS remains committed to delivering efficiency and seamless movements of high-end cars through our trusted network operations.