Global programme expands to span nine countries across three continents
The World Logistics Passport (WLP), a major policy initiative established to increase trading opportunities between emerging markets, recently announced that India, Indonesia and South Africa as members.
They join Colombia, Senegal, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Uruguay and the UAE in a club of trading nations sharing expertise to smooth trade flows around the world.
The WLP creates opportunities for business across Africa, Asia, Central and South America to improve existing trading routes, and develop new ones, through the world’s first logistics loyalty programme for freight forwarders and traders. It overcomes non-tariff trade barriers by fast-tracking cargo movement, reducing administrative costs, advancing cargo information and facilitating movement between ports and air.
“The recent announcement shows that governments and businesses are thinking differently about how goods and services move round the world, and we are delighted to welcome India, Indonesia and South Africa to the club,” remarked Mike Bhaskaran, CEO, World Logistics Passport.
India the largest economy to join the WLP to date
The WLP now counts Mumbai International Airport (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport), Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (Mumbai), and Emirates SkyCargo in India and Nepal as partners.
As a trade enhancing policy initiative, the WLP is closely aligned with the country’s aim to boost national competitiveness, increase the efficiency of its logistics sector and build tighter economic integration with emerging economies in South and South East Asia.
Spur trade opportunities
The WLP programme is closely aligned with South African National Development Plan 2030, particularly in terms of increasing intra-regional trade and improving trade penetration into fast growing markets in Asia and Latin America.
South Africa has joined the WLP at a time when the countries, and broader region, seek to recover from the economic impact of Covid-19. The WLP will help to achieve the goals in the Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, boosting job creation and supporting export-led growth.
Indonesia the first South-East Asian nation to the join
Indonesia is a strategically important market for the WLP, as it represents a region key to the WLP concept for its fast economic growth driven by manufacturing exports.
The WLP now counts the Indonesia National Shippers’ Council as a partner, which will provide benefits related to navigating the local market. Last year, the Indonesia National Shippers’ Council signed a MoU with PCFC in Dubai to realize trade cooperation, thus the registration can be seen as an evolution of an already entrenched and fruitful partnership.
