Chairman’s Message

Standing majestically at almost 30,000 feet above sea level, Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain peak. Mountain climbers train for several years to conquer Everest by honing their physical fitness and mental toughness. Yet, very few make it to the top. Since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay scaled the peak to reach the summit in 1953, only about 5,000 people have reached the top.

As We Near the Summit

The difficulties of the ascent become more intense as one approaches the summit. The path from the last camp to the peak is called the “death zone.” The combination of thin air and harsh weather conditions gives rise to disorientation, hallucinations, and several other health-related obstacles. However, for the fortunate few who persevere, an extraordinary moment awaits when there are no further steps to climb.

As CSS approaches the upper echelons of our industry, the ascent has become increasingly demanding. We must hone essential leadership skills like strategic thinking, relationship building, risk-taking, authenticity, humility, objectivity, resilience, stamina, and decisiveness. These skill sets can guide CSS to face the challenges on our path toward excellence.

From The Dance Floor to Being on the Balcony
I recently read a McKinsey report about a study conducted by Harvard Kennedy School professors Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky about a novel concept called “shifting from the dance floor to the balcony.” This analogy paints the difference between executing daily tasks, calling it “being on the dance floor”, to stepping back to gain a broader perspective, calling it “being on the balcony”. The professors explain that the most influential leaders can seamlessly do both.

Keep sight of your responsibilities on the dance floor as you continue to excel in your day-to-day role. Mary Barra, the CEO of GM, who climbed the ranks to lead the company, shares valuable advice, “Approach your current role as if you’ll be doing it for the rest of your career. This mindset encourages investment, improvement, and the pursuit of greater efficiencies.”

As for looking from the balcony, there are three viewpoints you should embrace:
•Look at the future of our industry.
•Look at the whole organization from a broader perspective. Go beyond your immediate role and responsibilities and try to understand every aspect of your company.
•Look at the stakeholder landscape and be knowledgeable on environmental and societal issues.

Rekindling the Humane Spirit

Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, losing innocent lives on both sides is a tragic reality that weighs heavily on our hearts. It’s a truth we must never forget, hatred begets hatred, and violence begets violence. The atmosphere of hate and the call for war are exacting a heavy toll on innocent children whose lives are being marred by violence. It is the younger generation whose psyche we must reshape so that peace may finally prevail.

Let us come to a collective understanding and embrace the value of “agreeing to disagree”. Let us be tolerant toward one another and raise a generation that respects the belief systems of others.
In the words of Nelson Mandela, “No one is born hating another person because of the colour of their skin, their background, or their religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love is the essence of our humanity.”

Let us remember the power of empathy, understanding, and our capacity for positive change. Tenacious mountain climbers face daunting obstacles and treacherous conditions to reach the peak. We can also overcome adversity and work to build a world where humanity, compassion, and love triumph over hatred and violence.
The journey may be arduous, but we can rise to greater heights and achieve the impossible with perseverance and a commitment to a better world.

Let us pursue excellence with a heart full of hope and a vision of a brighter future in the year ahead

Chairman’s Message

My recent read was a book with an intriguing title called David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, by Malcolm Gladwell. The book explores the concept of underdogs and their ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. One of the key arguments in the book is that when facing a powerful opponent, it’s often better to play by your own rules rather than trying to play by theirs.

In the original story, David, a young shepherd, defeats Goliath, a giant and skilled warrior, using a slingshot and a stone. Gladwell uses this story to illustrate that disadvantages can sometimes be turned into advantages. He believes that benefits can sometimes lead to unexpected disadvantages. Goliath had all the advantages – he was big, heavily armoured, and experienced in battle. On the other hand, David seemed to be at a severe disadvantage due to his smaller size, inexperience and lack of armour.

Gladwell believes that Goliath’s size and strength proved to be disadvantaged. He believes that Goliath suffered from a medical condition that likely caused him to have poor vision, and his armour made him slow and cumbersome. At the same time, David was agile and skilled with a slingshot. By choosing to fight on his terms and using his unique skills, David exploited Goliath’s weaknesses and emerged victorious.

I was inspired to adapt the lessons from the book to the corporate context. We can rethink traditional strategies, leverage our strengths, and challenge established norms.

Here are some ways we can do it.

Let’s Build Unconventional Strengths : Just like David used his slingshot skill, identify unique strengths within your team. These strengths might not be the most obvious or conventionally valued, but they could provide a competitive advantage.

Let’s Cultivate a Growth Mindset : We must inculcate a continuous learning and adaptation culture. We can then face challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth and improvement.

Let’s Embrace Diversity : Always include diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences, as it can lead to innovative thought and breakthrough solutions.

Let’s Become Risk-Takers : Experimentation and trying new approaches can lead to path-breaking concepts.

Let’s Form Strong Relationships : Developing solid relationships within our industry or workplace can provide support and resources when facing challenges.

Let’s Focus on Customer Needs : Small and agile teams can often provide more personalized, responsive and attentive customer service.

Let’s Become Storytellers and Good Communicators : We must highlight our unique strengths and victories. We will celebrate our “specialness” to make CSS stand out in the logistics marketplace.

Chandra Kala and Sasi Kala, or CK and SK as we call them, are some top management set to take CSS to the next plane of growth and expansion. Logistics is considered to be a “male-dominated space”. However, a PwC report called “Transportation & Logistics 2030 – Winning the talent race” confirmed the link between a more gender-balanced workforce in logistics and higher financial returns. Those logistics businesses with more women on the board outperform their competitors by 16% in return on sales and 26% when comparing the return on
invested capital.

The Gulf News featured our company, and I quote from this article, “As they embark on this journey to shape the future of the CSS Group, CK and SK remain steadfast in their commitment to excellence, aiming to exceed customer expectations and set new benchmarks in the industry. With their shared vision, unyielding determination, and unwavering focus on core values, the twin sisters are set to lead the CSS Group into an exciting new era of success and growth.”

I liked a line from the book: “Giants are not what we think they are. The same qualities that appear to strengthen them are often the sources of great weakness.”

Let’s turn disadvantages into advantages. Let’s play fair and square by our own rules. I know that the next decade will position CSS to succeed remarkably.

EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH

May 2023

Shomitha Shafana
Senior Coordinator -Sales & Customer Service
CSS Bahrain
Awarded by Udheesh Uthaman
Business Development Manager

May 2023

Shamnad Shamsudheen
Driver – Transport – CSLC
Awarded by Pramod Kumar Narayanan
Transport coordinator

Chairman’s Message

A few weeks back, all of us rejoiced together when the four indigenous group members were rescued from the deep Amazonian jungles of Colombia. Their ordeal, which started on May 1, 2023, lasted for 40 days after their plane crashed and the passing away of their mother.

Prayers arose from every corner as the missing children aged from 11 months to 13 years, captured headlines in almost every newspaper across the globe. It took a team of over 130 special force commandos, accompanied by highly skilled indigenous guides to undertake the challenging mission to locate the missing children.

The area they were found in, situated deep within the Colombian jungle, is renowned for its remoteness and inhospitable conditions. The region teems with dangerous wildlife such as jaguars, anacondas, and venomous insects. Additionally, torrential rains persist for more than 15 hours a day, and the dense vegetation often limits visibility to a mere 10 meters.

Upon locating the group, President Gustavo Petro described the day as “magical” and praised the children for their remarkable feat of survival, which he believed would be etched in history. The children belong to the Huitoto indigenous group. Their mother Magdalena Mucutuy often brought her children to the forest where they likely learned the skills that allowed them to survive until rescuers came.

What can we learn from this incredible story of overcoming the odds?
These are the four things I learn from their extraordinary feat of resilience.

1. Be A Leader Even If You Do Not Have a Title
The oldest child, Lesly was only 13 years old but she became a mother to her siblings. Despite any real training in leadership, she rose up in the face of adversity and took charge of the situation. Leadership is not about having a title or position; it’s about having the ability to encourage and persuade others to overcome the difficulties to achieve a common goal.

2. Teamwork Wins the Day
Lesly could not have survived the jungle without her siblings’ cooperation and trust. Together, they found food and water, built huts to shelter themselves against the elements. In our work places, there is absolutely nothing that cannot be achieved with teamwork. One person cannot do everything and every person in the team is a valuable member.

3. Ability to Face the Odds
The four little children would surely have faced hunger, thirst and looked at the face of fear. However, they battled the odds as they never gave up. They kept persisting diligently till they were found. We face many a challenges at work, but if we hold on, we will triumph over them and achieve our goals.

4. A Spirit of Resilience
The four children would have faced immense challenges during the 40 days in the deep forests. Lesly showed outstanding abilities by thinking on her feet and identifying the available options. She devised amazing methodologies to stay alive and keep her siblings fed. She used her innate knowledge and indigenous wisdom to find plants, fruits and seeds to provide sustenance. The children were resourceful and above all they were adaptable in that hostile environment.

I believe that these qualities will enable each of us to be exceptional leaders in our sphere of influence.

This incredible survival story inspires us to face the most difficult situations, it inspires to survive and thrive.

I leave you with a quote by Nelson Mandela to ponder over.

“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

Chairman’s Message

An AI-powered bot, ChatGPT has taken the world by storm. More than a million people rushed to sign up for it within five days of rolling out the service. GPT stands for generative pre-trained transformer, and it can generate computer code, well-researched essays, and poems.

A McKinsey report published last year reveals that AI adoption has grown two-fold over the past five years. While many reacted with fear over Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) taking over their jobs, there is great scope for improving business processes.

So, what are AI and ML?

In simple terms, artificial intelligence (AI) involves creating machines that can perform tasks that require human-like intelligence, such as decision-making, speech recognition, and natural language processing. Voice assistants like Siri and Alexa are based on AI technology, as our customer service chatbots pop up to help you navigate websites.

On the other hand, Machine learning (ML) is a type of AI that involves training algorithms to learn from data patterns and improve their performance without human intervention. ML finds applications in areas such as image and speech recognition, predictive analytics, and anomaly detection.

AI will become part and parcel of our daily lives as it is increasingly and seamlessly adopted into business and other aspects of society.

AI in Logistics

Early adopters highlight the transformative impact of AI in the logistics industry. AI removes biases while making decisions and produces insights from a sea of big data, helping an executive to make informed decisions.

And that’s just the beginning.

AI will automate demand forecasting, route optimization, and inventory management tasks, allowing companies to work more efficiently. Predictive analytics will foretell demand and identify patterns, allowing companies to make better-informed decisions.

Some of the benefits of incorporating AI into logistics operations are:

Efficient Operations: AI can automate tasks like demand forecasting, route optimization, and inventory management, enabling companies to operate more efficiently.

Lower Operational Costs: By automating tasks and detecting inefficiencies, AI can assist companies in reducing labour and transportation expenses.

Better Bottom Lines: AI can help companies increase revenue and enhance their bottom line by boosting efficiency and reducing costs.

Better Decision-Making: AI algorithms can analyze data and identify trends and patterns, providing valuable insights that inform strategic decision-making.

Improved Customer Service: AI can help companies improve their customer service by offering real-time tracking information to customers and enhancing responsiveness to customer needs.

Meeting Sustainability Goals: Going green has become crucial in the logistics industry. AI can help achieve this by cutting carbon emissions, preserving resources, and lowering waste. AI-powered transportation management systems can optimize routes, reducing fuel consumption and significantly reducing carbon emissions. AI-enabled sensors and IoT technology can monitor and analyze data in real time, enabling companies to quickly identify and resolve issues and improve their supply chain’s overall performance.

A highly traditional sector, the logistics industry is going through a rehaul with the adoption of technological innovations. In an industry that once believed in settling deals with handshakes, disruptive forces like AI and ML are improving efficiencies, cutting costs, and elevating customer experiences. Autonomous trucking and robotic warehouses will soon be the norm.

At CSS, we have always been quick to adapt to the industry’s changing norms to offer our clients best-in-class services. That’s just one of the reasons why we are a tier-one logistics and freight forwarding partner in this region and beyond.

The holy month of Ramadan has drawn to a close with the auspicious Eid celebrations. This year, we aligned with the non-profit AKCAF Association under Community Development Authority (CDA) and Islamic Affairs for the mass distribution of iftar boxes during the month of giving and gratitude. As part of our CSR activity, the boxes were given at Al Quoz labour camps throughout Ramadan.

I extend my warmest Eid al-Fitr and Vishu greetings. May we celebrate this season keeping in mind the importance of unity, compassion, and generosity towards one another.

Chairman’s Message


A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Turkey and Syria after the deadly earthquakes rocked and left a trail of destruction. Thousands of buildings have collapsed, and millions of people have been displaced. Thousands of Turkish and Syrian citizens grapple with a future that has left them with no home or livelihood. Despite receiving humanitarian assistance from several countries around the globe, Turkey and Syria faces enormous recovery challenges ahead.

Extending Helping Hands for Turkey
CSS has always placed Corporate Social Responsibility as integral to our values. We have always been at the forefront when disaster strikes in this region and beyond. We were privileged to work along the patronage of the Turkish Consulate and Turkish Business Council. We stepped in by providing our warehouse and staff at CSS Homeward Bound warehouse in Al Quoz, Dubai, as part of the disaster relief program.The collection drive was extended to three days with a massive outpouring of relief materials. With the massive task of collecting, sorting, and organizing materials, we witnessed the heart and spirit of UAE residents. Cutting all barriers of race, age,
and religion, people arrived in groups at the CSS warehouse to extend a hand of support to our Turkish brothers, sisters, and little children.

The Wood-Wide Web
I recently read a story about the neural networks of trees. There’s evidence that trees can communicated through a vast, underground network of fungal connections called mycorrhizal networks. This term is often called ‘the wood-wide web.’ Mycorrhiza is everywhere. Every step through a forest can cover hundreds of kilometers of densely packed fungal threads. These are the fiber optic cables of the wood-wide web. The fungus forms mycorrhiza with plant roots, and through those connections pass substances that both organisms need to grow. As the fungal threads spread, they can link to multiple plants, creating common mycorrhizal networks. Plants can exchange sugars, nutrients, water, and information through these networks.

We Are All Interconnected
Aren’t we all like the trees of the forests in our social relations and interconnections? Yes, we are all part of our complex and big network. We cannot pretend to live on an island. If something happens to a tree in a forest, the loss affects the other trees. It’s the same way for us.If something negative happens to people around us, even as far as Turkey, we do feel it in our roots.I want to thank every person who was part of the Helping Hands for Turkey effort.

The Asian Century
This century is touted to be the Asian Century. The Asian region is now the world’s largest economy. As Asia’s economies evolve further, the region has the potential to fuel and shape the next normal. In a recent McKinsey podcast called the Future of Asia Podcast series, the outlook continues to remain bullish on the Asian economy and the growth opportunity that it offers for the global economy. One of the speakers said, “If you are belt-tightening, you’re doing it wrong. You must set yourself up for a decade of outperformance, which requires reinvention.” Steve Jobs, the charismatic pioneer of the personal computer era and the co-founder of Apple, always set high standards for quality. He wanted it to be “insanely great.” There was no middle ground. So let us keep our ears on the ground and eyes on the sky, and let’s set ourselves to outperform!

Chairman’s Message

 We live in an increasingly interdependent world where goods, services, human resources, finances, data and innovations flow from one end of the world to the other. The shifting geopolitics in Europe foretell a shift in the power axis of the world.
I believe we are on the cusp of a new era. At this point of change, we need to affirm our vision and realign with our core values. Our core values of excellence, perseverance and integrity have helped us weather every storm and made us reach where we stand today.

2023 – Bringing Plans to Fruition
As we step in 2023, I am excited to see all that we have planned for the year ahead come to fruition. The Strategy Meet at Zanzibar was a great success with the heads of all business verticals across products like Sea Freight, Airfreight, Warehousing, Logistics, NVOCC, Freight Forwarding, Agency Networks, New Focus Areas came together to put forth their strategies for market capitalization for the year ahead.

Lessons from FIFA 2022
The FIFA World Cup in Qatar was filled with enthralling moments. The final match between Argentina and France was one of the best games in football history. It was the Argentinian captain Lionel Messi’s last chance to lift the prestigious yet elusive FIFA World Cup before his retirement.
At this tournament, Argentina’s start could not have been worse, with a defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening game. However, he managed to steer his team to a victorious finish to lift the golden cup of joy!

The 5-Point Leadership Goals – Messi Style
Hailed as the GOAT or the greatest footballer of all time, there are many things that we can learn on leadership from Lionel Messi.

  1. Pass the ball
    Perhaps the greatest lesson that we learn from Lionel Messi is passing the ball in leadership. Messi has displayed a spirit of sacrifice to bring glory to team rather than himself. The true impact of a leader is the number of people you have assisted to progress in their lives.
  2. Set excellence as your standard
    Messi demands excellence of himself and how he relates with the team. As a leader you must have a standard that you live by which people will see and that excellence will create records for itself.
  3. Dribble when you have to
    A leader takes responsibility for making a difference in the game. Messi has in many times dribbled past 3 or 4 opponents in order to create a goal opportunity or to score himself. Being able to stand up and create a difference is a leader’s mandate.
  4. Get up, shake it off and keep on playing
    Messi tends to keep playing and not complain too much. How you conduct yourself on the field of play will determine how many people will follow you.
  5. Stay fit to play
    You cannot set records until you participate in the opportunity to set records. In order to be able to set records, a leader must be fit. Leadership requires courage, determination and strength but above all you need to stay fit in order to stay on the field.

I am concluding with a quote and I hope to make it my mantra for 2023. I hope you will make it too!

“Every year I try to grow as a player and not get stuck in a rut. I try to improve my game in every way possible.” – Lionel Messi

Chairman’s Message

Is recession in the air?

Recent reports predict that a recession is looming on the horizon. Freight labor unrest has gained global proportions and severely impacting global supply chains. The Biden government managed to broker an agreement between US freight rail companies and unions representing rail workers; to avert the first US national rail strike in 30 years. The strike would have affected millions of Americans and resulted in a USD 2 Billion loss to the American economy every day.

However, the scenario does not seem bright. We need to dig deeper into our proven playbook of success in the face of slower growth and higher inflation rates.

Growth-oriented Leadership

Interestingly, McKinsey Global Institute’s research reveals that growth-oriented leaders react decisively to disruptions that can be turned into opportunities. The leaders who choose growth; think, act, and speak differently. Their commitment to development ensures that they stay resolutely faithful to their growth vision in the face of unexpected challenges. They even turn disruptions to their advantage, which are called “timely jolts”, these disruptions can eventually build organizational resilience and agility to respond to change.

I want to draw attention to the fact that growth-oriented team members have the power to break inertia as they set to prioritize progress and advancement. It’s a choice we make, and it can shape our behavior and mindset and create a ripple effect across the entire organization.

We should rely on scenario planning and prepare a set of long-term moves to help us thrive in a tight environment. Research reveals that a strong sustainability strategy can accelerate growth by creating value in a slowing economy. As we plan for the future, let’s adjust our business goals to capture segments with green growth potential.

A Target Story

Existing businesses have achieved impressive growth during recessions of the past. USbased retailer Target is one such example. In 2000, Target strengthened its investments by adding new locations, products, and partnerships. This led to double-digit growth in both sales and profits. In 2008, Target added more fresh meat and produced in its food category after analyzing customer trends. Since then, the food category has generated billions in the company’s annual revenue. The pandemic times were also a windfall season for Target. The company boosted its online services, accelerating its ability to use stores as distribution centers and enabling online-order pickups from their parking lots.

Modern yet Traditional

Let’s work on building greater organizational cohesion and resilience to weather the storms ahead of us. With more than 25 years of experience in the logistics arena, let’s remember to keep our feet rooted in our traditions as we straddle to conquer the future. Our feet are firmly planted as we evolve and change to keep up with the times. The foot on the floor is kept firm for the other that takes the step forward. At CSS, we are modern yet traditional at the same time.

As we end 2022, I thank our network partners for their continuous backing. I also want to thank our valuable customers, bankers, and business associates who have enabled us to come thus far.

Last but not least, I want to thank every member of Team CSS, you are the heroes of the CSS growth story and should continue to steer us towards success.

I want to end with a quote from the famous American psychologist Abraham Maslow, “One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.”

Chairman’s Message

Supply chains and logistic companies like ours are not new to digital transformation. When the pandemic hit us, we quickly adopted digitization to enable our teams’ remote working, ensuring business continuity in the midst of the lockdowns.

Logistics in the Metaverse and Web3

In October 2021, Facebook rebranded itself as Meta. The Metaverse is a digital 3D universe that creates a digital space that is then translated into the physical world. It is considered the next big step in the future of digital interaction. It has become a popular trend pursued by several organizations, not just by Facebook alone. At the Intersec conference held in Dubai early this year, the experts said that the Metaverse also shows a demand for jobs, which is definitely portending a future digital economy.
This also means that the Metaverse can affect how supply chains operate. It will enhance collaboration across all supply chain tiers, both internally and externally. This environment will also help create better warehouse designs as it can be simulated, experienced, and improved in the Metaverse before the physical build, saving money and time from concept to reality.
Web3 is another revolutionary concept in which platforms and data are owned by the people who build and use them. Considered to be the next iteration of the internet, supply chain and logistics start-ups are built on decentralized ledgers with a backbone of cryptocurrencies. These solutions can help manage and track the shipment of anything worldwide.

CSS -The Technology Adopters

Reuters Events surveyed 488 logistics and supply chain professionals worldwide between January and February 2022 in partnership with CargoWise. In the survey report titled Global logistics: The link between technology and productivity, the key takeaway is that technology is essential to unlocking consistent productivity gains for logistics providers. At CSS, we have always been at the forefront of adopting robust digital infrastructural facilities so that we can deliver on customer demands and respond quickly to change.

Disruptive Thinking

We need to adopt disruptive thinking to succeed in an increasingly uncertain business landscape. It means thinking differently or a way that challenges the usual way of doing things. The architect of the disruption theory, Clayton M. Christensen, explains, “Disruption describes a process whereby a smaller company with fewer resources can successfully challenge established incumbent businesses.”

India Staff Meet at New Delhi

We had a great time at the India Staff Meet, which was held on 31st July 2022 at ‘The Umrao’, a much sought-after luxury hotel in the National Capital Region (NCR) of New Delhi. It was a night of grand festivities and a time of honoring the stupendous efforts of the CSS India team.
Many breakthrough technologies will emerge and evolve in the days ahead. We are at the birthing stages of new tech like the Metaverse and Web3. Team CSS has always been one step ahead of the others in the industry. As we adopt a disruptive mentality, it will help us provide valuable offerings to our customers. Let us be future-ready to go beyond physical workplaces to envision a future with virtual working environments.
This has made me think that even our future staff meetings might be on the Metaverse!

Chairman’s Message

The first months of 2022 have seen a couple of curveballs thrown our way. The transport and logistics sector has teetered under economic, industrial, and geopolitical pressures.

An Inclement Season

We have seen the rise in fuel prices that have impacted all modes of transportation. The pandemic-induced restrictions in oil production would require time to shake off and scale to capacity. The present Ukraine war has further imperilled the global commodity markets. International sanctions on Russia, one of the largest oil exporters have deepened the situation. All this is in addition to the foregoing supply chain challenges and labor shortages.

The sector witnessed soaring inflation and a weaker dollar. Crude oil prices have reached record levels in the US, and the current volatility exposes the uncertainty in the global energy landscape. There has been a weakening in connectivity between North Asia, including Japan and South Korea, to North America. This has led to more short sea services to China and trans-shipment to trans-Pacific services.

Meanwhile, the closure of the Ukraine – Russia air space would translate to longer lead times, and the impact of this crisis would only be realized in the months to come. Further, China reeling under strict quarantine measures would create further production and transportation disruption. We can expect higher cost pressures, especially between Asia and Europe.

However, consumer demand has seen an uptick in recent months, and this trend will continue. While demand increases, ports have seen increased vessel bunching, berthing delays, and reduced-yard capacity. Carriers are using blank sailings to reduce congestion.

Keys for Success Amidst Rough Times

Again, e-Commerce has been growing, amplifying demand, especially in the US. Experts call on us to focus on localizing the supply chain networks. Success would depend on agile supply chain systems and better forecasting for inventory and delivery. Technology would be a key driver towards achieving this. Companies are increasingly moving to last-mile solutions and crowdsourced delivery agents.

Amidst the human tragedy in Ukraine that is disheartening, the crisis has compelled the shifting of traditional trade routes. For instance, UAE’s food retailers have opted for alternate sourcing from destinations like India, Pakistan, and Australia.

Changes and uncertain times always bring to us not just risks but a platter of opportunities.

At CSS, I believe three actions would become our competitive advantage in these uncertain times. Firstly, we must maintain a strong relationship with key customers. Having our feet on the ground, eyes, and ears on the markets, and our hands quick to act. Thus, we proactively shape the future. Secondly, we must foster an organizational drive towards digital fitness. We must be able to innovate, focusing on cost efficiency and asset productivity. Thereby, we drive our strategic goals into our daily and weekly targets.

Finally, the critical factor in driving the above would be our culture. Building a culture of agility and flexibility would be crucial to achieving the first two paradigms. The Culture Conduit by Steph Honami is a practical take on what helps make human connections work at the office and in everyday life. Our culture drives the core of all our interactions. This often dictates how we conduct our business and personal life. Let us build a culture that makes it easier for people to work together across regions and boundaries.

At CSS, I am confident in our team that is moulded to face tomorrow. The future is challenging which makes it interesting, and with the right attitude, we can surely make it a WIN-WIN situation!

Chairman’s Message

We have set sail into 2022, and we brace ourselves for challenging yet exciting opportunities that will come our way. Covid-19 and its evolving variants will remain a central variable as we steer through. It is reasonable to predict that the longer the pandemic lasts, longer will be disruptions in ocean supply chains, and freight rates will continue to stay exceptionally high.

Keys to Success in 2022

We can already foresee supply chain issues, port congestions, driver issues, product shortages, and inflation. While the direct impacts of the pandemic may ease in the next quarter, we must prepare ourselves for the secondary effects. The global responses to these secondary effects of the pandemic may exert long-term impacts on supply chain functioning. Mitigating risks and responding with speed would determine our success.

At the CSS Group, we have consistently overcome challenges and are well equipped to face them. With our cumulative experience and varied skill sets, I am confident we are positioned to reach our vision for 2022.

Pandemic and The Growth of E-Commerce

We have set ourselves to exploring and providing new services in new sectors, expanding our foothold in new domains. Our foray into e-commerce is one of the many ways we seize the opportunities this pandemic has created. Pre-pandemic, the ecommerce sector reached a value of $22 billion by 2020. The coronavirus pandemic was a defining event, forcing businesses to rethink brick and mortar commerce. As many companies shut shop, ecommerce buoyed several others. By the end of 2023, the ecommerce market is expected to touch $62 billion in UAE.

UAE’s Strategic Weekend Shift

The UAE’s shift in its weekend classification to Saturday and Sunday from January 1st has aligned the United Arab Emirates with global markets. This move will positively impact businesses with increased ease in making deals and trade with clients overseas. More foreign investments, property transactions and liquidity at the local stock markets, with higher consumer spending, will boost UAE-based businesses across various sectors.

At CSS, this is a stepping stone to better productivity. We will be able to serve our international clients more efficiently and keep our UAE operations aligned with the rest of our offices across the globe. Historically, since UAE began its trading week on Sunday, a holiday for international markets, the interest in local markets and liquidity was low. However, we are set to see trading volumes are likely to go up once trading hours become more aligned with International business days. This is a welcome move and reinforces the innovative and progressive leadership within the UAE as they continue to roll out pioneering strategies within the region.

Bill Gates, the American software mogul, and philanthropist, said, “Success today requires the agility and drive to rethink, reinvigorate, react and reinvent constantly.”

At CSS, agility and drive should be the force of momentum as we move into newer sectors and embrace the opportunities that come our way. I commend each of you to be champions of speed and innovation, energizing us to conquer greater heights.

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

I love Sports. And I have found that Sports has a great capacity to mirror life, by means of physically drawing out the passion from within our human nature. With the conclusion of Tokyo 2020, we have witnessed not only some tremendous sporting action, but also the rise of many a champion. And all this in the midst of a pandemic.

On 1 August 2021, an incredible event took place at Tokyo 2020.

Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy shared the gold medal for the men’s high jump event. Both Barshim and Tamberi had cleared 2.37 meters. However, even after trying three times, they were unable to clear the 2.39 meters bar. When the Olympics officials discussed the modalities to select the winner, Barshim asked to share the medal. The Olympics official replied that this was a possibility, and the rest is history.

“Can we have two golds?” These words of Mutaz Barshim are the most heartwarming moments of Tokyo 2020. Tamberi said, “Sharing with a friend is even more beautiful … It was just magical.” “This is beyond sport,” Barshim added, “this is the message we deliver to the young generation.”

We also saw a great win by Italy as they lifted their second Euro Cup since their first win in 1968. The Italian team headed by Roberto Mancini’s won 3-2 on penalties against England on the English home turf at Wembley stadium.

What is interesting about this win is that the Italian team practices the Catenaccio style of football. Catenaccio’s main principle lies in tight man-marking and the use of an additional defensive player known as ‘sweeper’ (or ‘libero’ in Italian) to form a double line of defense. In Italian, catenaccio means “door-bolt,” which implies a highly organized and effective backline defense focused on nullifying opponents’ attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities. It’s not just about one or two-star players, but the entire team of eleven working together. Football fans all too often forget this is still a game of eleven players. Italy doesn’t.

Don’t these sporting milestones teach us a few life lessons?

At CSS, the core values guiding and driving us are teamwork, honesty, clear communication, and a passion for excelling. We believe in nurturing a culture that encourages innovation, creativity, collaboration, and responsibility. We need to maintain these values as we work together as one team, which will help us navigate the changing landscapes. I hope this message inspires you and reminds you of our core values. Let’s work together as one, sharing the responsibilities and the victories as we push ourselves to do our best work on the tough days.

We also celebrated Onam at CSS with much aplomb. Cutting across all differences of race and religion, this unique festival of Kerala brings much joy and hope to all of us. I wish you all a Happy Onam and a year ahead full of togetherness, health, and prosperity in every realm.

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

The ferociously lethal second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had India gasping for breath. As India became ground zero of the global pandemic, the medical system in India was trying its best to cope with an acute oxygen crisis. The graph of daily infections that began soaring by late March breached global records on April 26th 2021, crossing more than 350,000 positive cases.

Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, in his address to the nation on June 8th 2021, stated, “Never in a-100 years has there been such a pandemic, and this saw an unprecedented demand for medical oxygen across the country.”

Across India, tens of thousands of critically ill patients had their lungs damaged by the virulent strain of the SARS-CoV2 virus. As they were rushed into hospitals, the demand for medical oxygen spiked ten times from the norm. The deluge of new cases caused hospitals across the nation to post frantic alarms in the face of perilously dipping levels of life-sustaining oxygen supply.

The breath of life-saving air, which we take ever so granted, became the most precious commodity.

The international community was quick to respond to India’s time of need. The United Arab Emirates assured a steady supply of liquid medical oxygen as India was battling this deadly second wave. In a special gesture of solidarity, the iconic Burj Khalifa was lit up in the Indian tricolor and a message to “Stay Strong India.”

The CSS family feels extremely proud and considers it an honor and privilege to extend our hand of help to the nation of India in her time of dire need. CSS Kingston was instrumental in the movement of oxygen tanks and oxygen processing units from Sharjah to Mumbai. Our technical prowess and deep knowledge of critical and time-bound shipments ensured that the movement was handled seamlessly.

I want to conclude with this saying by the American footballer, Doug Baldwin.

“The greatest tragedy for any human being is going through their entire lives believing the only perspective that matters is their own.”  

The way you see the world is just the way you see the world. It defines only your truth. If you only keep looking through your lens, with time, your vision will get blurred.

Isn’t it time we borrowed the other person’s glasses?

You don’t need to agree with them. Dear CSS family, let’s try to understand our neighbor’s perspective on seeing the world. That’s how we rise to a level that’s higher than where we are.

Let’s stay connected with each other, and we can conquer the challenges that lay ahead.

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

As tragic scenes from COVID ravaged India shake the very essence of our being, we have come to a grave realization that the virus has not gone away. It caught India unawares even as several other countries worldwide battled severe second waves of the pandemic.

Several Indian states are reeling under the pressure of daily rising of positive cases along with a severe shortage of medical oxygen and a lack of hospital beds; things are spiraling out of control. The UAE was one of the first countries to offer help with six cryogenic oxygen containers, followed by financial aid. UAE also expressed its support to India by lighting up the iconic buildings in the Indian tricolor on April 25th.

It is essential to realize that the virus is not contained within countries and nations but can travel through international borders and boundaries. One country’s problem cannot be seen as an isolated one, but we need to accept that we are an increasingly global community. As global citizens, we need to embrace the suffering of our fellow human beings. I extend my heartfelt sympathies and condolences to everyone whose families in India have been affected by this virulent virus.

The real lesson from this catastrophe of epic proportions is the dire need for preparedness. The year 2020 was a watershed year for businesses across the spectrum. COVID-19 shook the logistics industry as well and it was indeed a wake-up call. Protocols were introduced to ensure the integrity and continuity of the supply chain. While 2020 proved to be a breakdown of all paradigms, 2021 is not a time to let down our guards. What we have to acknowledge today is that unpredictability is the new normal.

As we restructure and move ahead together, the CSS family must be flexible, open, and prepared; these are the keys to our success. We cannot sketch out the opportunities and challenges in the field of logistics. We need to be agile enough to operate in a flexible technology environment instead of predicting what’s ahead in terms of market conditions. If we do that, we will emerge resiliently, and more importantly, we will be better set up for success.

Let’s always keep in mind that the difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people are willing to do what unsuccessful people are not. As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do.” The compound effect is the principle of reaping great rewards from a series of small but smart choices. The compound effect works both ways, and it can also lead to ruin if the habits are bad.

It’s not the big things that add up in the end; it’s the hundreds, thousands, or millions of little things that separate the ordinary from the extraordinary

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

No one predicted that a pandemic would have the world reeling under its aftermath in the year 2020. COVID-19 was a black swan event like no other, sending ripples of disruptions across every business segment. It has altered the very business landscape that CSS operates in.  

However, it is highly heartening that the CSS family has acted intelligently and responsibly to ensure market continuity. We have once again proven our flexibility to overcome challenges and embrace new realities.

Growth in the Time of Crisis

While everyone around was tightening their belts by downsizing their operations, we decided to take this challenge as an opportunity. We extended our footprint by opening up a new branch within the Hamriyah Free zone to reach out to the untapped market in the northern emirates of the UAE. With 500,000 sq. feet of storage facility across the UAE, CSS can proudly say that we are among the top service providers in the warehousing industry. Further cementing our market position, we officially signed contracts with various big names in the transport, hospitality, Oil & Gas industry & Fabricators as direct vendors ensuring business continuity for the next three years.

2021 – The Year of Great Change

In 2021, CSS has decided to put in place changes in strategy. The Group has restructured its core businesses by hiving them into separate entities headed by able leaders. Our offices are the support pillars that will help develop the region’s key customer base and increase our market reach. We are geared to bring forth new offerings and solutions, building stronger bonds with our existing client base and fortifying our network partner relationships. 

Considering the challenges that we faced in the year 2020, tight capacity is likely to continue during the first half of 2021. However, e-commerce retail and the manufacturing industry will be one of the drivers for the business. The new market equations and business models with investment into digitization will help us stay on top of our game in the coming year. The opening up of the Israeli markets and the lifting up of Qatar’s trade sanctions are bound to bring in new business.

The exemplary CSS attitude where “I” really does not hold a stand; is what will continue to propel us towards reaching our vision to be a top logistics provider in this region and beyond.

Ending on a Note of Heartfelt Gratitude

I want to thank all our network partners for their continued backing. We also acknowledge the strong support of our customers, bankers, and business associates in 2020. We look forward to your strong support to help us to achieve a better 2021 and beyond. Lastly, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each member of Team CSS. Your dedicated services and support during the pandemic helped us stay resilient.   

As John F. Kennedy said, when written in Chinese, the word crisis is composed of two characters—one represents danger, and one represents opportunity.

The pandemic has revealed a crisis can set the collective adrenaline flowing, allowing minds to focus on bringing forth new and improved solutions. So, Team CSS, let’s go on and make 2021 a 202WON!

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

I have always believed that the key to success is not just what we achieve at the moment, but in knowing what is around the corner. For 24 years, we have always managed to stay ahead of the curve.

The CSS Group entered 2020, on the heels of a successful 2019. I had expressed that optimism in my message at the beginning of the year. However, we didn’t see what was lurking just around the corner.  Starting with an outbreak, COVID-19 quickly escalated into a pandemic in no time.

“Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor”, said Franklin D Roosevelt. The last 25 years have thrown many an obstacle in our path. From our humble beginnings in Dubai as a company with just three employees, today, our footprint stretches across the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

Our growth is a testament to our resilience, and we will overcome this current challenge as well. Having said that, we are not out of the woods yet. Global trade is slowly limping back to normalcy, and we are part of a key vertical in this equation. The aviation sector operates at minimal capacity, and the ocean segment is heavily imbalanced in terms of equipment and capacity. Fluctuations in these two sectors have a cumulative impact on the supply chain to a degree not seen in the recent past.

Or is this the new normal?

Is this a sign for us to change what we do and how we do it? Investment in people and culture remains a priority; however, adapting to new technology has become necessary to ease process gaps and incorporate learnings from our shortfalls that the current pandemic-driven challenges have brought up.

True to our commitment to the marketplace, we have been a responsible partner. We have realigned our products and offerings to aid and support hard-hit industries. We revamped our business models and have come out much better in the second half of 2020 than what was anticipated. We are also fueled by an undying ambition to grow. Having established a niche presence in the Hamriyah Free zone, we have also completed a very successful 12-months stint in Bahrain.

To my team, the entire CSS Group family – Thank You! Your efforts and perseverance have brought us to where we are now, despite the challenges around us. We are looking to close 2020 as we did in 2019.

I would also like to thank our partners and customers who have stood by us during this unprecedented period in modern times. We have a new world unfolding in front of us, a lot of shifts ahead, and the opportunities that come with it.

At CSS, we always intend to stay ahead of the curve.

I wish you a safe end to 2020 and a much better 2021

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

Time and again, Mother Nature has proved how unpredictable she can be. Now, it seems as if she needs to create a furor to catch our attention. We have indeed hearkened to her cry with high-level discussions on how to adopt sustainable practices to pacify her anger. But let’s be honest, have we done anything? Is it enough to stem the cauldron of her rage that seems to brim over now and then? Let’s ask ourselves, “What has changed?”.

I remember penning my thoughts some years back on how at CSS, we have decided to adapt to changes in the industry and its practices, quickly. If we do not, we stand in danger of being left behind in the race towards fulfilling our vision. This is the thought that ran through my mind when I read a tweet from Prakash Iyer, the noted author/motivational speaker. He speaks about the Choluteca Bridge in Honduras and how this is now become a bridge to nowhere. What struck me was how he drew a metaphor for the changing course of today’s world. Change in all forms, be it our thought patterns or our actions, is never a one-time happening neither is it permanent. I believe that change should be like the problem itself, always fluid.

That is precisely how the logistics industry functions. Many changes are happening in the way business is conducted, be it the frequent updating of INCO terms, or classifications, inclusions/exclusions in-laws, using green fuels, and so forth. The list is long, and if we are not fleet-footed enough to understand the nuances of these changes and accept them, then for sure, we will be left behind.

The unique facet of our industry is that problems keep evolving daily. I believe that innovations only trigger a change. What we need to change is our thought process to adapt quickly to what has been triggered.

Let me assure you, at CSS, our thoughts are in sync with the times. We are always thinking to achieve our vision by triggering the changes with innovations that is tune with the evolving global scenario. Our adaptability helps us provide extraordinary service with seamless solutions fully adapted to address our customers ’ changing needs and requirements.

I will leave you with the words from the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus, who stated, the only permanent thing is change. Change is inevitable, and our ability to adapt to that change often defines our success.

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

As we face the unprecedented events in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the scale and scope of these happenings are what the world has never witnessed before.

The small South Indian state of Kerala has been lauded around the world for its quick, effective, decisive yet compassionate response to the Covid-19 crisis. Being the state which reported the first case of Covid-19 in India, Kerala topped the chart of positive coronavirus infections at the onset. But the leadership took swift action and the state managed to “flatten the curve” paving the way for the other states and even first world countries to emulate its course of action. Now, as it battles the second wave with increasing rate of infections, Kerala remains determined to battle the pandemic and protect its people.

COVID-19 will fuel the next wave of innovation

This global pandemic will shape businesses for decades to come. With the entire world in lockdown mode, the global economy is being put to a severe litmus test. The reality of recession looms like black clouds and it seems but inevitable. This is a time of great changes and also a unique opportunity.

Difficult times produce great people. Our resilience in a period like this can win us the credibility that will last us a lifetime and more.

Growth in the time of stress

Black swan events like recessions and pandemics have changed the trajectory of governments, economies and businesses — altering the course of history. The Black Death in the 1300s brought the end to the feudal system in Europe and brought in the modern employment contract. The recession that resulted after the 100-year war between England and France improved agricultural productivity. Fast-forward to recent history, the SARS breakout of 2002-2004 caused the meteoric rise of the small e-commerce company, Ali Baba. Air BnB and Uber became popular in the West with the recession of 2008, pushing people to share their resources.

With Covid-19, we are already seeing the early signs of change. Remote working and telecommuting have become the norm. Supply chains of the future will be resilient ecosystems constructed using cutting edge technologies such as 5G, robotics, IoT and blockchain to help connect multiple buyers with multiple vendors reliably across a network of supply chains.

We are here to run a marathon and not a sprint.

As a company, we will move forward ever and backwards never

Chairman’s Message

The year started with a bang and on such a positive note. Certain developments in the business realms and the world, in general, have shaken us to our very cores. The Australian bush fires ravaged the landscape of the island continent and opened our eyes to the brutal realities of climate change. Sustainability has always underscored every activity at CSS. We have laid great emphasis on environmentally sound practices from when we set sail 25 years ago. Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together said the famous American entrepreneur and retailer, James Cash Penney. I foresee brighter days for the industry and our company as the year 2020 unfolds. We need to strive hard to achieve through synergistic working and innovation. I understand that CSS, as it stands today, is the result of many hands that have worked hard to build it from foundation up. We want to be part of a team that leaves a legacy and is remembered in the annals of this great organization that we have raised. As part of the team that is continuously breaking standards of excellence, we need to push ourselves outside our comfort zones. Growth never happens when we keep doing what we have done in the past; it comes with failures as we try to make progress. If you aim to achieve five great things this year and achieve only two, you are still outperforming all the people who never bothered to try to do anything at all. Next time you plan for your work ahead, evaluate your practice to include a “stretch goal.” Try to push yourself to perform 50% better than your existing goals. You will be surprised at reaching targets you thought were impossible! This is called a “growth mindset,” this sets the ones who achieve success from the ones who do not. When you have a growth mindset, you learn from anything by putting effort into it. If you fail, you approach the problem from another perspective until you arrive at a solution. No man is an island, so start supporting other people’s success. Celebrate with them, and when it’s your time to shine, they will exult in your moment with you. As a closing note, I want to leave you with this thought, “Expectation is the mother of manifestation.” So keep your hopes high and let your spirits soar as we surge towards a highly successful leg of the journey we embarked on in the year 1995.

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

It always gives me pleasure, and the start of this New Year is no different when I can wish you all an excellent 2020 ahead.

The past year had some challenging days. Both within and beyond our organization, we have seen unexpected changes. The business conditions were incredibly challenging for the entire Shipping and Logistics fraternity. Issues which included trade wars, and unrest in the Middle East. Fortunately, as usual, the confidence and the will power shown by everyone at CSS was so amazing that together we admirably sailed through rough seas.

I genuinely feel that the power of our inner mind is the main driving force in one’s life, although nowadays, we don’t experience it quite as often — the foundation stone of our perceptions, decisions, and other emotions. But the demands of modern living mean many are driven away from using spiritual consciousness as a positive force. Instead, we often sideline our inner self when it comes to deciding by letting today’s stresses and strains dominate.

To rise to greater things in 2020, we need to see it as an excellent opening for all of us to reunite with our inner mind. Given time and the space to re-invent or re-engineer consciousness before taking action, while achieving what seemed previously unattainable. There are promising things ahead for all of us. We need to visualize them and go for it.

The trade wars now seem to be over and will bring balance back to the ailing economy of Nations. The much-awaited Dubai Expo 2020 is just around the corner, and opportunities to grasp.

It was a similar keen mindset that drove those of us involved with the inauguration of CSS. It seems like only yesterday when CSS set sail on a journey in the Shipping and Logistics industry. 2020 marks the 25th anniversary of the company, and it perhaps fits that traditionally this anniversary is known as a ‘Silver’ anniversary. I am confident heralding this milestone landmark because, with our inner minds set to sail fair, any wake will drive us forward to silver-lined horizons