EFL partners with SpiceJet and TOWER to deliver Covid-19 vaccines across India
Expolanka Holdings PLC’s logistics business EFL, has entered into a strategic partnership with SpiceJet India and TOWER Cold Chain Solutions of South Africa. EFL is a global supply-chain and freight forwarding company that currently handle over 20 million shipments to 25 countries through through over 60 offices worldwide.
EFL Global CEO and Managing Director for India Mr. Senthil Shanmugam, along with EFL India’s Director of Airfreight Mr. Sudeep Narayan, signed the tripartite memorandum of understanding to formalize the arrangement.
EFL spans a footprint of 19 locations across India, widely regarded as the pharmaceutical hub of Asia and the world. India’s exports range from non-prescription and long-term prescription medications, surgical equipment, vaccines and medical devices. Catering to local demand and export destinations in Asia, Africa, Middle East and America, a complex variety of supply chain solutions are needed from material procurement to delivery and distribution for an ever-expanding global and domestic market.
Pharmaceutical transportation requires solutions that range from ambient temperature to sub-zero conditions, and preserving these standards is a must to meeting the value chain’s mandate. With extensive experience in the pharmaceutical vertical and operating a successful logistics business with the current complexities in supply chain, EFL strives to overcome limitations at all stages through end-to-end solutions that are patient- and manufacturer-centric.
TOWER Cold Chain Solutions provides a unique range of products that meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry that are IATA approved. SpiceJet has a modern fleet of widebody and narrow body aircrafts with a reach of 54 domestic and 45 international destinations. EFL, with its experienced team of global logisticians, pharmaceutical vertical experts and an established global client base, are able to provide this solution that not only meets regional requirements but also global ones, aiding vaccine distribution and other medical deliverables which are essential to all.
SpiceJet Cargo (SpiceXpress) CEO Sanjiv Gupta said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has brought forth the fact that Indian cold-chain infrastructure for pharma products is rudimentary and will take time to evolve.
SpiceJet will provide narrow and wide-bodied aircraft to carry TOWER containers and Covid-19 vaccines across India. With over 90 aircraft, SpiceJet will handle the distribution across 63 domestic airports and 11 international airports to ensure meeting with the supply chain and distribution objectives.
“The tripartite agreement signed between SpiceXpress, [EFL] and Tower, envisages to provide the pharma companies a speedy and reliable end-to-end cold-chain logistics solution”, Mr Gupta shared.
EFL Global chief executive Senthil Shanmugam added: “The containers we chose are obviously of the upmost importance for this expansion and operation as we need to know that they are not only reliable but they are robust and reusable.”
EFL is a global supply-chain and freight forwarding company that currently handles over 20 million shipments to 25 countries spanning across 60 offices worldwide.
The partnership has already tested out their cold-chain solution with containers at various temperatures to ensure that every issue is dealt with, regardless of the compliance requirements that the vaccine requirements may entail.
Visits: 88
