India: a. hartrodt's export business is growing
National Logistics Policy to make Indian products more competitive globally.
India is gaining more weight in the global economy as a trading partner, highlighted at the end of February by the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with a high-ranking business delegation. Ajay Kumar Bhatt, Managing Director at a. hartrodt India in New Delhi, also notes: "Our transport product has definitely changed since we were founded in 2010." After an initial focus on printing presses and medical technology, he says the industry mix is now "quite diversified" – including polymer products for plastics, raw materials for the automotive industry and pharmaceutical products. According to Bhatt, the export share of a. hartrodt India is now 35 percent.
Very young workforce, high technical level
Traditionally, India is "consumer-driven" – and the soon-to-be world's largest population strengthens its position on the global market, says the manager with a Master's degree in International Economics. He cites a "very young workforce" combined with a high level of technology as growth factors. Among the internationally successful companies are the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, Serum Institute of India, and the car manufacturer Tata Motors.
Improving connectivity between Eastern states and metropolitan areas
But Ajay Bhatt warns: "Without proper infrastructure for all modes of transport, growth is not possible." He sees construction sites especially in roads, Eastern states on the border with China need to be better connected to metropolitan areas. He also finds: "Short Sea Shipping is one of the best ways to move cargo quickly in an area affected by traffic congestion." Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recognized this, he says, and launched a new National Logistics Policy (NLP) in September 2022. Ajay Bhatt hopes for momentum from the NLP and "Gati Shakti", the National Master Plan for Multimodal Connectivity.
Ajay Bhatt observes progress in sea freight – more private terminals such as APM Terminals Pipavav in Gujarat led to significant relief. The manager believes that a. hartrodt India, with 80 employees at 13 locations, is ideally positioned for further growth. In addition to five operational offices at major ports and airports, a. hartrodt India maintains eight sales offices and service portals to serve customers locally.