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Specifically, they underscored the inadequacies concerning the articulation of legal affairs and required safety measures within the logistics sector.
These shortcomings, according to the businesses, must be addressed in the finalised version of the policy.
The businesses emphasised the importance of incorporating a broader range of opinions from various stakeholders before finalising the national logistics policy even as they argued that a well-written policy, encompassing diverse perspectives, would better address the wide array of issues pertinent to the logistics industry, ultimately leading to the provision of improved services.
Furthermore, there was a collective call to develop the logistics industry into a regional and international trade hub. This aspiration requires the government to ensure the provision of world-class logistics services to tackle the challenges inherent in such an endeavour, especially as the maiden national logistics policy is set to be framed soon.
The current fragmented state of the logistics sector was highlighted as a significant impediment to efficient trade. Businesses lamented the absence of a comprehensive policy framework, which has resulted in disjointed operations and the failure to centralise valuable trade under a single platform.
Additionally, the ambiguous roles of different government and private sector stakeholders were flagged as a concern. Of particular uncertainty is how both foreign and local logistics companies will serve their customers and how foreign direct investment in the sector will be facilitated.
The discussion drew participation from various stakeholders including businesspeople, researchers, economic experts, traders, exporters, lawyers, journalists, diplomats, and trade body leaders. It served as a platform to voice these critical concerns and advocate for a more robust and inclusive national logistics policy that addresses the multifaceted challenges facing the industry.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DR)