AIT opens new freight facility in Mumbai

ITASCA - Global freight forwarder AIT Worldwide Logistics Monday said it opened its newest location in Mumbai, India. Staffed by an initial team of 11 logistics professionals, the office is the first of multiple AIT facilities slated to open in strategic locations across the Republic of India in 2022 and beyond, the company said.

Expanding the company's worldwide network of more than 100 offices enhances responsiveness to global customers shipping to and from the world's second-most populous country, said Greg Weigel, AIT's chief business officer.

AIT-Mumbai is already handling a broad variety of air and ocean shipments to and from China, Indonesia, North America, Poland, United Arab Emirates and Western Europe, among others. With operations at all major airports and seaports across India, the team supports customers representing the region's prominent automotive, consumer retail, life sciences, and technology industries.

"Establishing a dedicated team in India improves service integrity for shippers," Weigel said. "The office's comprehensive connection with AIT's global operations platform allows us to provide customers with the most seamless experience possible."

While logistics costs in India tend to be high in comparison to other nations, Vikram Paul, AIT's vice president of India and Middle East, said his team is countering the status quo with the establishment of a unique, lean operational model.

"By outsourcing certain areas of finance, human resources and operational execution, we control costs while focusing on the core of our business - world-class logistics solutions for clients," Paul said.

The team in India is expected to nearly quadruple in size before the end of the year while securing additional licenses to facilitate the integrated supply chain solution services that will complement air and ocean operations. The next AIT facility in India is expected to open in the National Capital Territory of Delhi later in 2022.