Amazon India Forges Revolutionary Partnership with IWAI to Transform Transportation Infrastructure

Amazon India Forges Revolutionary Partnership with IWAI to Transform Transportation Infrastructure

Varanasi, November 22 (HS): Amazon India has entered into a pioneering Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), a division of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, to embark on an innovative journey in the realm of parcel delivery via inland waterways.

In a groundbreaking move, Amazon India has become the nation’s inaugural e-commerce company to leverage Inland Water Transport, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to enhancing India’s transportation infrastructure. This collaboration with IWAI aligns with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision to promote the use of inland waterways as an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective mode of transportation.

Under this MoU, Amazon India and IWAI will collaborate to facilitate containerized freight movement and establish a network for cargo shipment through inland waterways.

As part of its supply chain exploration, Amazon India will investigate the potential of inland waterways, with an imminent prototype run set to be initiated on the Patna-Kolkata waterways in partnership with IWAI and its carriers. This move underscores Amazon India’s dedication to scaling its capabilities to meet the growing consumer demand while fostering collaborative e-commerce endeavors with government entities.

Sarbananda Sonowal, Cabinet Minister, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Government of India, lauded this MoU with Amazon India as a significant stride in harnessing the potential of India’s Inland Water Transport. He emphasized the government’s commitment to augmenting freight flow via river systems, a more eco-friendly and cost-efficient transportation method. This partnership reflects the strategic importance of long-term logistics solutions for India’s burgeoning e-commerce sector.

The strategic alliance between IWAI and Amazon India is poised to drive innovation, sustainability, and efficiency in cargo transportation, contributing to India’s economic growth and development. Abhinav Singh, Vice President, Operations, Amazon India, emphasized the company’s dedication to revolutionizing logistics. By integrating inland waterways, Amazon aims to utilize all available modes of transportation in India, including rail, air, water, and surface, ensuring faster, cost-effective, sustainable, and dependable customer package delivery, while extending its reach to millions of sellers.

Impact on MSMEs:
Amazon India’s partnership with IWAI has the potential to significantly impact the logistics industry in India. By incorporating inland waterways as a mode of transportation, Amazon India can enhance the efficiency and reach of its logistics network. This may lead to faster and more cost-effective delivery options for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that rely on Amazon’s platform for selling their products. Additionally, the utilization of environmentally friendly transportation methods aligns with sustainability goals, which can positively influence the image and operations of MSMEs associated with Amazon India.

Report by Abhishek Awasthi, Hindusthan Samachar

Credit: Hindusthan Samachar

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