Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
Chandigarh, and Gujarat are among the 13 States and Union Territories that have
again been categorised as “achievers” in the logistics index chart 2023, as per
a report released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Saturday.
The index is an indicator of the
efficiency of logistical services necessary for promoting exports and economic
growth.
As against 15 States and UTs, this year
the number has reduced to 13 as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have slipped
into “aspirers” and “fast movers” categories, respectively, this year.
Steps taken by Sikkim and Tripura have
helped them move up the ladder to the “achievers” category from “fast movers”
in 2022.
The other States and UTs in the “achievers”
category are Delhi, Assam, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar,
Lakshadweep, and Puducherry have been categorised as “fast movers” in the
report.
Those in the “aspirers” category include
Goa, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Jammu and
Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The report ranks States on the basis of
their logistics ecosystem, highlights the key logistics-related challenges
faced by the stakeholders and includes suggestive recommendations, according to
the fifth LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) 2023 report unveiled
by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
The index aims at enhancing focus on
improving logistics performance across states, which is essential for improving
the country’s trade and reducing transaction cost.
Goyal said the logistics sector will
play a key role in taking the country’s economy to about US$ 35 trillion by
2047.
Citing a report of economic think tank
NCAER, he said the country’s logistics cost is estimated in the range of 7.8
per cent to 8.9 per cent.
“Going forward, the aim to bring it down
to the 5-6 per cent level is certainly doable,” he said, adding the government
has taken a series of measures such as investing huge amounts in infrastructure
development to help promote cut logistics costs.
He suggested the industry to focus on
skilled manpower, enhanced participation of States, use of new technologies
like AI, blockchain and data analytics, and steps to reduce carbon footprint
will further help in the growth of the country’s logistics sector.
PTI
