In August 2017, on behest of the traders dealing in urad and moong dal, the Union Government had placed import restrictions of up to 3 lakh MT on the whole/raw variety. The restriction on import for the said pulses had been placed to stabilise market prices which had fallen below the MSP set by the Government.&nbsp;On May 4th, 2018, the Government has further extended the cover of import restriction to include the split variety and other forms of urad and moong dal.Based on the latest notification issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT),&nbsp; split, processed and other varieties of urad and moong dal are also included in the import restriction list. Now, till further notice, the import of all varieties of the two pulses is restricted to 3 lakh MT/annum.&nbsp;However, these restrictions do not apply to imports by the Government in order to honour any bilateral/regional trade agreements or MoUs.&nbsp;The DGFT notification is appended below for your reference and guidance.&nbsp;<img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/e08f10294fb5dada23638fbace38a005/Noti%2006%20%28e%29.jpg" alt="import restriction on urad and moong dal" class="center/left/right" style="width: 981px; height: 1387px;"> <img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/58291edbbcc8c6abe573df02a7feebea/Noti%2006%20%28e%29%20%281%29.jpg" alt="Noti%2006%20%28e%29%20%281%29.jpg" class="center/left/right" width=""> Source: dgft.gov.in

Restriction on Urad and Moong Dal imports

The French container transportation and shipping company, CMA CGM, has announced a peak season surcharge from India to Onne, Nigeria. Below is the transcript -Dear Valued Customer,In a continued effort to provide our customers with reliable and efficient service, CMA CGM Group wishes to inform its customers of the Peak Season Surcharge update as follows:Scope of application:<ul><li>From India</li><li>To Onne, Nigeria</li><li>Applicable for all cargoes - dry, reefer, out of gauge and break bulk • As from 7th March 2019 (date of loading)</li></ul>Thank you for your ongoing support. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at our customer service.PEAK SEASON SURCHARGE<img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/6d2a633a21059113adfab4936fbbec77/Screenshot%202019-02-25%20at%205.30.50%20PM.png" alt="Screenshot%202019-02-25%20at%205.30.50%20PM.png">

CMA CGM Peak Season Surcharge: India to Nigeria

&nbsp;OOCL has announced a change in its Middle East Service 4 with effect from August 6, 1st sailing from Shanghai with the new route for the service.&nbsp;The press release is appended below for your reference and use.&nbsp;<pstyle="font-size: 16px;="" letter-spacing:="" normal;="" margin-bottom:="" 11px;="" caret-color:="" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" color:="" font-family:="" roboto,="" &quot;helvetica="" neue&quot;,="" helvetica,="" &quot;pingfang="" sc&quot;,="" &quot;hiragino="" sans="" gb&quot;,="" &quot;microsoft="" yahei&quot;,="" &quot;noto="" cjk="" &quot;wenquanyi="" micro="" hei&quot;,="" arial,="" sans-serif;"="">Dear Valued Customer:</pstyle="font-size:><pstyle="font-size: 16px;="" letter-spacing:="" normal;="" margin-bottom:="" 11px;="" caret-color:="" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" color:="" font-family:="" roboto,="" &quot;helvetica="" neue&quot;,="" helvetica,="" &quot;pingfang="" sc&quot;,="" &quot;hiragino="" sans="" gb&quot;,="" &quot;microsoft="" yahei&quot;,="" &quot;noto="" cjk="" &quot;wenquanyi="" micro="" hei&quot;,="" arial,="" sans-serif;"="">OOCL is pleased to introduce a direct call to the port of Umm Qasr in our Middle East Service 4 (ME4) product, effective from August 6 with the fist sailing in Shanghai.</pstyle="font-size:><pstyle="font-size: 16px;="" letter-spacing:="" normal;="" margin-bottom:="" 11px;="" caret-color:="" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" color:="" font-family:="" roboto,="" &quot;helvetica="" neue&quot;,="" helvetica,="" &quot;pingfang="" sc&quot;,="" &quot;hiragino="" sans="" gb&quot;,="" &quot;microsoft="" yahei&quot;,="" &quot;noto="" cjk="" &quot;wenquanyi="" micro="" hei&quot;,="" arial,="" sans-serif;"=""><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 1.png" alt="" width="300px"></pstyle="font-size:><pstyle="font-size: 16px;="" letter-spacing:="" normal;="" margin-bottom:="" 11px;="" caret-color:="" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" color:="" font-family:="" roboto,="" &quot;helvetica="" neue&quot;,="" helvetica,="" &quot;pingfang="" sc&quot;,="" &quot;hiragino="" sans="" gb&quot;,="" &quot;microsoft="" yahei&quot;,="" &quot;noto="" cjk="" &quot;wenquanyi="" micro="" hei&quot;,="" arial,="" sans-serif;"="">With the market reach and connections that the Umm Qasr port can provide, the ME4 service will improve our overall suite of Asia-Middle East products with competitive connections and a more comprehensive service network to the Middle East for customers.&nbsp;</pstyle="font-size:><pstyle="font-size: 16px;="" letter-spacing:="" normal;="" margin-bottom:="" 11px;="" caret-color:="" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" color:="" font-family:="" roboto,="" &quot;helvetica="" neue&quot;,="" helvetica,="" &quot;pingfang="" sc&quot;,="" &quot;hiragino="" sans="" gb&quot;,="" &quot;microsoft="" yahei&quot;,="" &quot;noto="" cjk="" &quot;wenquanyi="" micro="" hei&quot;,="" arial,="" sans-serif;"="">The new ME4 port rotation will be as follows:</pstyle="font-size:><pstyle="font-size: 16px;="" letter-spacing:="" normal;="" margin-bottom:="" 11px;="" caret-color:="" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" color:="" font-family:="" roboto,="" &quot;helvetica="" neue&quot;,="" helvetica,="" &quot;pingfang="" sc&quot;,="" &quot;hiragino="" sans="" gb&quot;,="" &quot;microsoft="" yahei&quot;,="" &quot;noto="" cjk="" &quot;wenquanyi="" micro="" hei&quot;,="" arial,="" sans-serif;"="">Shanghai – Ningbo – Taipei – Shekou – Tanjung Pelepas – Port Kelang – Jebel Ali – Umm Qasr – Jebel Ali – Port Kelang – Hong Kong – Shanghai.</pstyle="font-size:><pstyle="font-size: 16px;="" letter-spacing:="" normal;="" margin-bottom:="" 11px;="" caret-color:="" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" color:="" font-family:="" roboto,="" &quot;helvetica="" neue&quot;,="" helvetica,="" &quot;pingfang="" sc&quot;,="" &quot;hiragino="" sans="" gb&quot;,="" &quot;microsoft="" yahei&quot;,="" &quot;noto="" cjk="" &quot;wenquanyi="" micro="" hei&quot;,="" arial,="" sans-serif;"=""><img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/e2871be04626e73daa987bfa351127d0/IAT-ME4-S.jpg" alt="OOCL Service Route Change" class="center" width=""> </pstyle="font-size:><pstyle="font-size: 16px;="" letter-spacing:="" normal;="" margin-bottom:="" 11px;="" caret-color:="" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" color:="" font-family:="" roboto,="" &quot;helvetica="" neue&quot;,="" helvetica,="" &quot;pingfang="" sc&quot;,="" &quot;hiragino="" sans="" gb&quot;,="" &quot;microsoft="" yahei&quot;,="" &quot;noto="" cjk="" &quot;wenquanyi="" micro="" hei&quot;,="" arial,="" sans-serif;"=""> </pstyle="font-size:><pstyle="font-size: 16px;="" letter-spacing:="" normal;="" margin-bottom:="" 11px;="" caret-color:="" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" color:="" font-family:="" roboto,="" &quot;helvetica="" neue&quot;,="" helvetica,="" &quot;pingfang="" sc&quot;,="" &quot;hiragino="" sans="" gb&quot;,="" &quot;microsoft="" yahei&quot;,="" &quot;noto="" cjk="" &quot;wenquanyi="" micro="" hei&quot;,="" arial,="" sans-serif;"="">Source: OOCL.com Image source: Wikipedia Commons</pstyle="font-size:>

OOCL: Improvements to the Middle East Service

With the increasing population, food production demand also increases. Agricultural packaging helps farmers and the exporters to deliver food in the handiest approach without any loss.


Packaging prevents unnecessary waste post-harvest and during the processes of production, storage and transportation. It ensures short and long-term stability between the farmers and consumers.
<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a><ul><li>
Packaging for agricultural export business:
The packaging is rising an essential element for your export operation, impacting the safety, cost, communication and even marketing of your agricultural products. Agricultural packaging has gained immense popularity across the world. According to Statista, the global agricultural packaging market is expected to reach [$5.02 billion by the end of 2023](https://www.statista.com/statistics/916723/global-agricultural-packaging-market/). If you want your agricultural products to reach different horizons across the world, you should consider the features, importance and benefits of packaging.

- Safety of agricultural products
 
- Accurate handling instructions 
</li><li>
Importance of packaging in the export business:&nbsp;From the contractual point of view, you are responsible for the packaging of agricultural products such that it withstands the transportation process. If the packaging is damaged in the port of destination, then the handling of the cargo is not considered responsible.

Responsibility of seller: According to the new edition of [Incoterms 2010](https://iccwbo.org/resources-for-business/incoterms-rules/incoterms-rules-2010/), the seller will be responsible for any damage happened to the products during the journey. 
</li><li>
Security of goods: 
The primary purpose of the agricultural packaging is not limited to protecting the cargo during the international logistic process. The packaging is also an essential element of the product’s marketing, as it conveys a strong image of the company in front of the consumers. 
</li><li>
Cost saving:
Packing affects the cost of your products. The packaging must adapt to the cargo units deployed to optimize the use of trucks, containers and the other form of transportation. 
</li><li>
Storage and organization: 
Packages end up taking more space when not compatible with pallets and thus, waste up to 20% of the container’s space, adding 40% extra cost to in the price of your product.</li></ul><a href="https://cogoport.com/signup/en-IN/?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a><ul><li> 
Handling information: 
The packaging is also essential in terms of the instructions and other handling information. How the carrier, individual and the cargo handle the products will rely on the knowledge of the packaging. The information on the boxes, help the transporters to stack the boxes. The boxes could be stacked upside down, damaging the products when there is no instruction on the packaging. 
</li><li>
Packaging and labelling functions:

In accord with the importance of packaging, the packaging must have these functions to facilitate the transportation process without any hindrance:

- Protect your cargo during international logistics
 
- Communicate your brand with the consumers
 
- Your essential constitutional element of marketing
 
- Reflects your customer’s cultural value
 
- Instruct carriers how the package should be stacked or handled</li></ul>How does packaging boost your agricultural exports?

You should consider the below fundamentals to boost up their exports across the world.
1. Protection of goods:
For agricultural goods, protection of products is necessary, and as the exporter, you have to select the right packaging material to prevent damage. You can request samples to test the packing materials and packaging. The packaging should withstand the transportation process.

The means of transportation also plays a vital part in packaging as you have to select the material based on the transport used and the distance covered by the transportation company. It is necessary to use different kinds of material to target different markets.

2. Business communication:&nbsp;The packaging is something that communicates the product’s features to its buyers, making it the essential marketing tool for exporters. For agricultural products, you can instruct the consumers about the ingredient or can even warn them about the allergies.

Before initiating the export operation, preferences of the consumers in the target market should be assessed to ensure that the package meets the consumer’s expectations.

 3. Indicating the size of the package:&nbsp;The agricultural packaging and its material must be optimized to maximize the use of cargo units. The packaging should be designed in a way that a maximum number of packages fit in each box. The size of the boxes should be considered for pallet use.

EUR-Pallet is the most commonly used pallet across the world, which measures 1,200mm X 800mm X 144mm, which is approximate to 47.2inches X 31.5 inches X 5.7 inches. With these dimensions, the exporters can ensure maximum utilization of the space. It would help if you considered these calculations before packing your agricultural products.<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 1.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>
4. Information for handling:&nbsp;The package must indicate how it is handled. The agricultural exporter must mention how the product should be processed on the boxes. They can print indications along with the symbol like “this side up,” maximum stacking height,” handle with care” and many others.

All these indications should be listed outside the packages so that the carrier can transport them without damaging the products. Besides, it would help if you also considered other indications which are mandatory in your company’s product include precautions regarding the exposure to sunlight, damp and extreme temperatures.

5. Reflects your customer’s cultural values:
The information on the packaging should reflect your customer’s cultural values. No matter where does your customer resides, you should consider the local language and other aspects of the information.

In Turkey and Austria, green is well-accepted colour, while in China, red and yellow is accepted because of the royalty in its culture. You should conduct proper cultural analysis before designing your package to ensure and enhance the cultural values of your potential customers.

## What does this ultimately mean?

A right package can not only protect your shipments but also foster sales and increase the perception of value among your customers. Thus, packaging an important aspect which cannot be ignored to boost up the agricultural export across the world.

How Packaging Can Boost Agricultural Exports

The B2B marketplace is perceived&nbsp;tech-&nbsp;phobic&nbsp;which means&nbsp;anything&nbsp;that&nbsp;smells&nbsp;automated to&nbsp;the user&nbsp;cannot be&nbsp;simple.&nbsp;The&nbsp;fight is on, to&nbsp;prove&nbsp;that it is&nbsp;but&nbsp;very&nbsp;simple. It&nbsp;just needs&nbsp;to be&nbsp;addressed, that’s&nbsp;all. Technology need&nbsp;not be feared, it does add only value.&nbsp;The buyer will save time and money and&nbsp;the seller will save on customer acquisition cost, where if a shipper wants rates and clearance, technology will give it all - value, in every service that is provided.&nbsp;How this new striker with a tech-enabled model can herald a movement is to make a statement and deliver a complete package in terms of the price discovery that can assure clarity, compliance to rules, speed, transparency, profitability and instantaneousness.&nbsp;A lot could be replaced by adding value through technology.Tech can be predictive, Tech can analyse.&nbsp;Said and done, pure tech play cannot change human nature. Herein lies the trick.&nbsp;Technology will need Humans.Solution: the tech driven model brings in the now-needed human touch.&nbsp;A hybrid platform which is not merely a portal, which can be an assisted process to transact the deal.&nbsp;Why hybrid?&nbsp;Because a full-fledged technologically sound platform may not quite be what the buyer may want to adopt immediately. Show the buyer a face, a voice that is capable of being the guide and give some comfort with the initial handholding- that is what technology will do...take it whole lot further.The idea is brilliant, so why wait till the concept gets tested?<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 2.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>Watch this space for more…. Next: “The Limit(lessness) of Technology”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Technology - The need for a human face to it

Finagle’s Law,
a popular version of Murphy’s Law, which says that “Anything that can go
wrong, will”, is probably the best way to explain the importance and
necessity of freight and cargo insurance. A few recent examples
of accidents or incidents which resulted in huge cargo or marine claims are:<ul><li>The&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Tianjin_explosions" style="letter-spacing: -0.02em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Tanjin Port explosion</a>&nbsp;(2015) caused due to hazardous cargo could result in a loss of USD 6
billion. </li><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/sep/02/hanjin-shipping-bankruptcy-causes-turmoil-in-global-sea-freight" style="letter-spacing: -0.02em; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Bankruptcy declaration of Hanjin Shipping</a> in September 2016 resulted in
huge cargo claims. </li></ul>Natural
calamities like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes also form a major
part of marine claims.While all
transportation and allied service providers aim to provide safe transport of
goods from one place to another, the possibility of damage, loss, or delay
still remains. Damage or loss to cargo can be either due to natural causes or due to
breakdown of or accidents on the transportation vehicle (train, truck,
airplane, ship).A good cargo
insurance, to an extent, helps protect the shipper against all the things that
can possibly go wrong during transportation. It helps minimise risks and losses due to accidents, natural calamities, and damages during transportation.
It works as a shipper's lifeline till the goods reach the designated destination
and are handed over to the specified recipient as per the Bill of Lading.<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>Of course, this
protection comes at a cost and only if the shippers have acted in good faith and
have been prudent!However,
choosing a marine insurance cover is easier said than done. There are quite a
few combinations to choose from and too much fine print to read and understand. But, if a shipper keeps the following points in mind, then it becomes slightly
easier to choose a good cargo insurance policy.Sale
Agreement:&nbsp;The sale agreement plays a major part in deciding which party to the
sale is in charge of getting the cargo insured. In sale agreements where the
seller is responsible only for paying for the cost and freight (C&amp;F) or if he is responsible only for transporting the
cargo till the port of loading (FOB), then the onus of getting the cargo insured lies
with the importer/buyer. In cases where the sale agreement is cost, insurance,
and freight (CIF), then the responsibility of getting the marine
insurance cover rests with the exporter/seller.This point is
important as it determines which party to the transaction will be responsible for
arranging the insurance cover and how the claim process will be handled in case
of any damage or loss. Risks
Covered:&nbsp;The kind of risks and the extent of coverage is the one of the most
important points to consider when selecting a cargo insurance policy. The shipper should gauge the kind of risks that he may have to deal with and then
accordingly purchase an insurance policy that will help cover those risks. Frequency of
Trade:&nbsp;This is another aspect that can influence the choice of marine insurance
cover selected. If it is a one-time consignment, then the shipper can consider a
policy for that specific shipment only. If he has regular shipments, then he
can go for an open policy or an open cover.Arrangement
with Freight Forwarder:&nbsp;Though shippers are always advised to take
a policy for their own shipments, they can also check with their freight forwarder
for insurance cover options. Here, the coverage might be lower than what they would get if they bought their own cargo insurance policy, and
hence may not be sufficient to cover the losses in case a claim arises.Multi-modal
Transportation and Storage:&nbsp;If the transit requires multi-modal transportation,
then while choosing a cargo insurance policy, the shipper must also confirm and
check that the goods will be covered in all modes of transportation – rail, road,
air, and sea and while in storage during the transit time period.Assess Add-ons
Required:&nbsp;There are certain risks that may not form a part of the insurance policy
and may need to be covered separately. The party in charge of arranging for the
insurance cover must assess all the possible risks involved during transit and
the time in between with respect to location, transhipments, storage, and
political conditions of the countries involved in the trade. For example, if
one of the countries involved in the trade is going through riots or strikes
and the region falls on the route of the transportation – then it would be
prudent to get a cover against this specific problem. It may increase the
premium payable, but it will ensure that if the cargo suffers any damage due to
an unstable environment, the losses will be covered.<img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-2.png" alt="" width="300px">Once there is
clarity on the above points, and the shipper has all the required information,
he can select from one of the following policies (most common types of cargo
insurance available in India) to insure his cargo. Specific Voyage
Policy: This
policy covers only one specific shipment. It is applicable only till the time
the shipment reaches the specified destination. As mentioned earlier, it is
ideal for shippers who do not export/import goods regularly.Open
Cover:&nbsp;Generally, a yearly cover is offered by the insurer to the shipper with
an understanding that the insurer will provide marine insurance (separate
policies) to both import and export shipments. Under this cover, a separate policy
for each consignment is created and a premium is collected for that specific
shipment.Open
Policy:&nbsp;This insurance policy is not applicable for international
transportation. It can only be taken by shippers who are transporting goods
within the country. It is generally an annual policy and covers movement of
cargo declared during the policy period.Annual
Policy:&nbsp;This type of policy is applicable only for goods being stored or shipped
from a specific place and where the title of goods belongs to the shipper (exporter/importer) who has taken the policy.While insurance
provides a safety net for the shipment, it comes with a set of rules that need
to be followed. If there is any instance of negligence from the insured, then
the insurance policy can be declared to be void.Shippers need to keep the following points in mind to get maximum benefit from their
insurance policies:<ul><li>Provide the correct details of the shipment with respect
to weight (net and gross), number of packages, nature (perishable, hazardous or
dangerous cargo). </li><li>Provide the correct details of the final destination and
the end recipient of the cargo. </li><li>Insure that the packaging of the cargo has been done
keeping trade guidelines and safety of the product in mind. </li><li>Insure that all the required labels and markings have
been put on the package. </li><li>Insure that all additional handling instructions have
been provided to the carrier and its agents. </li><li>Any other information that may have an effect on the
insurer’s decision to insure the cargo and give the insurer’s ability to
understand the kind of and extent of risk they are undertaking by insuring the
cargo. </li></ul>It is important to note that all
marine insurance claims are verified with the information provided at the time
of taking the cargo insurance.

Cargo Insurance: A Safety Net For Sailing

Please be informed, in its trade advisory dated June 21, Maersk Line has announced that the Line will be levying Extra Seal Charge (ESC) for exports originating from India to worldwide.The details of the charge to be levied is given below. <img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/7bfed084ab15c8332245048513a6be55/ML%20Customer%20Advisory%20Introduction%20of%20Extra%20Seal%20charge%20%28ESC%29%20-%20India%20to%20World.jpg" alt="Maersk esc advisory"> Source: Maersk Line Trade AdvisoryImage Source: Wikipedia Commons

Maersk Announces Extra Seal Charge from India

Lars Jensen, CEO at SeaIntelligence Consulting and Cogoport's Liam FitzPatrick discuss the hottest topics, from technology to Brexit, in the shipping Industry. <iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P5HSeHJF6to?showinfo=0"></iframe>

Expert Connect Podcast with Lars Jensen - Ep. 1

It’s always nice when the media takes interest in your company. Especially for a fast-growing startup trying to simplify freight and optimize global shipping. We have already been featured on The Loadstar and The Economic Times, to name a few.<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a><h3>It's a Bird! It's a&nbsp;Plane! It's the Magazine on the Plane!</h3>If you fly British Airways this month, you will be able to read about Cogoport in the in-flight magazine. For those that don’t fly BA, here’s some of what they wrote about us in an article called “Cities of Innovation”, which Rotterdam is.“New digital solutions are also playing a major role by improving efficiency for the 30,000 sea-going vessels that call at the Port of Rotterdam each year. Indian startup Cogoport chose to open its European HQ in Rotterdam. The company has been called the “Uber of sea freight”, but Carmit Glik, CEO of Cogoport in Europe, prefers to think of it as the Booking.com of logistics. The service matches importers and exporters with freight carriers and is currently growing 20 percent a month, with about 4500 customers and 300 suppliers using it. “There is a significant focus on maritime and logistics innovation in Rotterdam,” says Glik. ”If you’re in that sector, you definitely want to be here.”<h3>We're Moving Freight. Port to Port and Beyond.</h3>The second article I’d like to share some quotes from is from an Israeli publication called Port2Port, who interviewed me at the end of last month.“Carmit Glik: "Cogoport was founded with the aim of providing added value to its customers by managing the whole supply chain - from our customer's factory to their end customer who purchased the goods abroad, while the entire handling and shipping process is managed by an innovative digital platform that reports real-time on all shipments and offers solutions and alternative options in real-time as well. We are essentially a digital "umbrella" that collects all the data from suppliers that offer shipping, forwarding and logistics services, and presents them to our customers in a convenient, efficient and transparent manner, including the costs of course, and the customer chooses a specific service through this platform. The digital aspect is very important, but as a company, we see the delivery of our customer's products to their end customers as the most important."<a href="https://cogoport.com/signup/en-IN/?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>Glik: "In the end, our goal is to simplify the access to the data and inform the customer of everything that really interests him, and in real-time. What matters to us is process improvement for both customers and carriers. At the end of the day, we will not do anything that doesn't provide added value to our users, which should be true for all the technologies that exist in the market today, whether it is Blockchain or artificial intelligence. It's all about the customer, and positive experience. And by the way, one of the biggest tests is always to see how things go when something goes wrong. For example, there was an accident and the container did not arrive in time to the port and did not board the ship - we know how to report it to the customer. This information is very important for the customer and he wants to get it right away. The ability to inform our customers instantly and give them alternative options is one of the advantages of our platform. Currently, we're working on an app that's available from any mobile phone that will further simplify the processes for our customers. Anyway, it's always possible to use the website or call us, and our employees can always intervene personally. It all depends on the severity of the situation, but our goal is to make the platform so simple and intuitive that the customer can do everything himself. "Glik: "There are suppliers that interface with our platform and there are suppliers that use it manually in their back-office operations. It depends on the company and its digital capabilities. Our goal is to be the link between suppliers that have ships, trucks, etc. to those that have goods to ship in the most efficient way. We work with everyone because we are a platform, a "marketplace" and as such we want to give the customer all the options that are available today. We will let our customers choose what options best suit their needs. Cogoport works in the background to make sure everything runs smoothly. It is the customer that chooses which carrier he wants to work with. And when the customer sends it to Western Europe, he can also choose whether the shipment will be delivered to its final destination by train, truck, or barge. Multi modal shipping is big here, and we offer the full range of services to manage that."<img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 2.png" alt="" width="300px">Glik: "Our platform is divided between suppliers and customers and there are sub-categories for shipping companies, shippers and exporters. That's how the system identifies them, and if I'm a carrier I can connect to a network that can provide me with new business opportunities. And if you are a smaller carrier that doesn't have the large customer base of an international shipping company and you offer good service at a good price you have access to new markets you didn't have access to before."<h3>Hello, Is it Me You're Looking For?</h3>While I don't have a singing voice anywhere near Lionel Richie's, I do know Ocean Freight and Tech. So if you want to talk ocean freight, logistics technology, digitization of freight, or have any questions on Cogoport, then it is me you're looking for.

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