DHL opens industry’s largest Express handling airside facility in

DHL opens industry’s largest Express handling airside facility in Bengaluru with an investment of EUR 22 million

·         17 dedicated international freighters to operate through Bengaluru by November

·       Facility expansion will offer faster transit time in South and West India by up to 24 hours

 

Bengaluru, October 28th, 2021: With an investment of EUR22 million (~INR 200 crore) over the next 10 years, DHL Express, the world’s leading express service provider, today opened the express industry’s largest airside facility in Bengaluru, India. Located within the Kempegowda International Airport, this newly expanded Bengaluru Gateway by  DHL Express spans over 112,000 sq feet, over four times larger than the previous facility.  

 

When operating at full capacity, this new and expanded facility can handle over 90,000 tons of shipment per year. The additional capacity at the expanded Bengaluru Gateway enables DHL Express to offer 12 to 24 hours faster connection and delivery of imported goods across India,  and reduce daily cut-off time for shipment pick-up by up to 60 minutes. 

 

 

 

Ken Lee, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific, said, “As one of the world’s fastest growing economies, India remains a critical node of the global DHL network. The Bengaluru Gateway is part of our EUR750 million investment to bolster our infrastructure in Asia Pacific and enhance connectivity for countries and businesses. With strong international imports and exports driving the increasing cargo volume in Bengaluru, our new facility supports Bengaluru’s strategy to provide capacity of one million tons at its airport in the next few years.”   

“The launch of the largest Express Terminal by DHL Express in Bengaluru will support the growth of Express logistics in the country. DHL has built a robust system of clearance and this new and expanded facility in Bengaluru will further boost trade and provide great service to trade and nation. The facility will enhance digitisation and improve ease of doing business, both of which are strategic objectives for India,” said Baruah Sailaja Ray, Principal DG Systems, CBIC

Commenting on the launch, M. Srinivas, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Karnataka said, “The state-of-the-art facility launched by DHL Express in Bengaluru has been designed keeping the future growth in mind, which is a welcome trend for the industry. This facility will play a leading role in driving growth momentum for our nation as well as facilitate growth in the region. The focus on security and safety as well as the level of automation which reduces physical handling of shipments is commendable.”

 

Using 11 DHL-operated intercontinental freighters, 30 international commercial airlines and 70 domestic flights on a weekly basis, the Bengaluru Gateway at present connects both South and West India to over 220 countries and territories through DHL’s unrivalled global network. An additional six dedicated intercontinental freighters will join the current fleet by November 2021, bringing the total number of aircraft operating through Bengaluru to 17.

 

The Gateway’s primary export trade lanes are North America and Europe while Asia Pacific and Europe are the key import trade lanes for Bengaluru. The expanded Gateway will provide greater capacity to support industries such as electronics, automotive, life sciences & medical, and fashion in Bengaluru. Coupled with the enhanced infrastructure and additional dedicated DHL flights, these trade lanes will greatly benefit from the increased capacity and speed.

 

R.S Subramanian, SVP and Managing Director, DHL Express India, said, “10 years ago, DHL landed its first freighter in Bengaluru and opened its Gateway at the Kempegowda International Airport. Since then, we have seen the international volumes multiply significantly. Our EUR22 million investment commitment is testament to the growth potential we see in this market. To maintain our market-leading position, we will continually invest ahead of the curve in our infrastructure, technology and people to support the country’s economic growth and help Indian exporters and importers expand their business.”   

G&J industry takes a sigh of relief as

G&J industry takes a sigh of relief as re-import of certified diamond extended for 3 months period

Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in its recent statement released, has extended re-import of certified diamonds for three months between February 1 till July 31, 2020

In a major relief to the Indian diamond industry, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes And Customs, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue, Government of India, at the behest of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), announced an extension of three months on certified diamond re-imports in an official notification. The provision stated: “Provided that for the cases where the last date of re-import falls between 1st February, 2020 and the 31st July, 2020, the last date stands extended by three months”

Under normal circumstances, diamonds sent overseas for services like grading and certification do not attract any duty if they are re-imported within a period of three months. A 7.5% Customs duty is levied on the consignment if the re-import is delayed.

Given the unprecedented circumstances due to the ongoing pandemic worldwide, the Council had been pursuing with Finance Ministry for an extension of three months for such re-import. The Finance Ministry was quick in deciding to extend the duty exemption period.

Colin Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, said, “I would like to thank the Government for this quick decision taken, which will help to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 on the industry. The Government has been supporting the industry during this crisis. The latest notification on the extension of three months on re-import of certified diamonds is a great respite for our exporters.”

Vipul Shah, Vice Chairman, GJEPC said, “The trade has been reeling under the impact of Covid-19 due to which exports to key destinations have been severely impacted. In this backdrop, the extension notification will give a much-needed relief to the traders. I express my gratitude to the Government for this timely support.”