World Logistics Passport Expands In India

The World Logistics Passport (WLP), a unique loyalty program established to increase trading opportunities between emerging markets, is expanding in India – with Hyderabad registering as a Hub and two subsidiaries of the GMR conglomerate registering as partners, both operating in Hyderabad airport . As one of the first countries to engage in the WLP, today’s announcement solidifies India’s standing in the program.

More than 10 countries are now part of the major policy initiative – trading nations include Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa, amongst others. In addition, major multinational corporations including UPS, Pfizer, Sony, Johnson & Johnson, and LG are also engaged with the WLP.

Hyderabad is the second WLP Hub registered in India, after Mumbai. The city is strategically important for the country’s international exports of goods and services, totaling approximately $21bn*. With trade routes to Mumbai and New Delhi, as well as to the WLP’s global network, Hyderabad’s trade infrastructure includes Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

Earlier this year, the WLP signed Mumbai International Airport (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport), Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (Mumbai), and Nepal as partners.

Mike Bhaskaran, CEO, WLP, said: “India, as one of the first countries to engage in our program, showed a clear commitment to thinking differently about how goods and services move round the world. Today’s announcement is yet another endorsement of this new approach to global trade, and we are eying additional expansion in the country as we look to widen our offering.”

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 program 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.