The 33rd Plenary Meeting of the International Coordinating Council on Trans-Eurasian Transportation (CCTT) was held in Lonavala (near Mumbai) on December 3, 2024 in a hybrid format with the support of the Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations of India (FFFAI). CCTT is a non-commercial transport association uniting 80 members from 20 countries.
The meeting was attended by more than 100 representatives of government establishments, railways, seaports, shipping, investment and transport, and logistics companies - members and partners of CCTT - from 18 countries (Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, R. Korea, UAE, Austria, Germany, Singapore, Thailand, Egypt, Belarus, Azerbaijan, China, Mongolia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Turkmenistan).
The event focused on enhancing logistical cooperation and addressing challenges in the Eurasian transport network. Participants discussed measures such as multimodal logistical planning, border-crossing facilitation, financial and insurance solutions, and the critical role of digitalisation in logistics.
Key highlights of the event
The forum was graced by prominent dignitaries, including:
* Mr Unmesh Sharad Wagh, IRS, Chairman of JNPA and Chairman & Managing Director of Vadhvan Port
* Mr Pandurang Raut, IRS, Deputy Director General – Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India
* Mr Shankar Shinde, Immediate Past Chairman of FFFAI and Vice-Chairman of CCTT
* Mr Paresh Mehta, Regional Chairman, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)
* Mr Oleg Belozerov, CCTT Chairman, CEO - Chairman of the Management Board, RZD OJSC
* Mr Mikhail Goncharov, CCTT Secretary General
* Mr Ivan Fetisov, Russian Consul General in Mumbai
* Mr Igor Ten, Representative of the Federal Customs Service of Russia in India
*Mr Sergey Pavlov, First Deputy Director General – Chairman of the Board, RZD OJSC
* Mr Arzybek Kozhoshev, Minister (Member of the Board) for Energy and Infrastructure, Eurasian Economic Commission (virtually)
In his address, the Chief Guest, Mr Unmesh Sharad Wagh underscored the strategic importance of the INSTC corridor in facilitating trade and highlighted the role of the India-developed Chabahar Port in expediting shipments, noting the scheduling of regular vessels to enhance connectivity. He also showcased the advanced features of the upcoming Vadhvan Port, emphasising its potential to significantly boost handling capacity. Mr Raut spoke about India’s robust economic growth, its emergence as a global manufacturing hub, and the strides taken in fostering ease of doing business. Both dignitaries stressed the critical need to strengthen partnerships among CCTT member companies and leverage the INSTC to drive global trade connectivity.
Earlier, in his opening address, Mr Oleg Belozerov noted that the volume of international cargo traffic on the Russian Railways network has exceeded half a billion tonnes (551 million tonnes, +2.6% against 2022). Container transit is growing dynamically - in 10 months in 2024 it amounted to almost 1.1 million TEU (1,091,3 thousand TEUs), 61.5% more than in the same period in 2023.
According to him, a broader and permanent business outreach platform should be created under the auspices of CCTT and FFFAI to aggregate visions of the Indian market related to the international corridors, identify proposals to overcome the existing constrains, and expand on action points aimed at organising mutual efforts to achieve the said goals.
The meeting considered issues pertaining to developing the Eurasian railway and multimodal routes and increasing the infrastructure capabilities of seaports. The main topic of discussion at the Plenary Meeting was intensifying the work of the CCTT member companies on the further development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
FFFAI recognised with ‘Eurasian Transportation Excellence Award’
The Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) was awarded the prestigious Eurasian Transportation Excellence Award on the occasion. This recognition highlights FFFAI’s exceptional cooperation, partnership, and contribution to the development of CCTT and the INSTC.
FFFAI’s role in INSTC development Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shankar Shinde, IPC, FFFAI, highlighted the benefits that will accrue from the INSTC to stakeholders. He outlined FFFAI’s pivotal role in promoting and operationalising the INSTC. The corridor has proven to be a vital alternative during disruptions such as the Red Sea challenges and Suez Canal congestion, connecting India, Iran, Russia and CIS countries through three primary routes - Western Route: via Azerbaijan; Central Route: via the Caspian Sea; Eastern Route: via Turkmenistan.
Mr Shinde also highlighted the successful movement of reefer shipments carrying perishables and pharmaceuticals, marking a new milestone for the corridor’s utility beyond general cargo.
FFFAI’s collaboration with the Government of India and other member countries aims to strengthen infrastructure, connectivity and IT integration along the INSTC, further enhancing trade opportunities.
The recognition of FFFAI with the Eurasian Transportation Excellence Award underscores its commitment to developing sustainable and efficient logistical solutions. By encouraging international partnerships and embracing innovation, FFFAI continues to play a transformative role in making the INSTC a global trade corridor of the future, emphasised a release.