Scanning the horizon: 23-27 Nov

China's Cainiao Is Revolutionizing How Goods Get Delivered. Will the Rest of the World Follow Its Rules?

Source: TIME

The article outlines the ambitions of China's logistics company Cainiao to become the dominant delivery player worldwide by reducing the cost to USD3 per kg and the shipping time to 72 hrs globally (currently under 0.5kg parcel costs USD100 to ship from Shanghai to London via DHL and takes 5 days...). Such offer could open opportunities to producers even in the least economically developed corners of the world.

Moreover, the company is pushing the envelope in the area of digitalization and the article exemplifies how the COVID-19 crisis coupled with e-commerce growth has facilitated innovation in logistics.

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TIACA Digital Air Cargo Forum 2020 to focus on Covid-19 vaccine transportation, building resilient operations

Source: STAT Trade Times

The flagship event of the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), the Air Cargo Forum (ACF) is going digital this December with a robust program covering people and skills in airfreight, airports, sustainability, drones, transportation of COVID-19 vaccines and industry collaboration.

The event will take place online with the support of the STAT Media Group team on 1-10 December and will also feature its prestigious yearly Hall of Fame Awards and the Air Cargo Sustainability Awards.

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ParceLive: real-time cargo tracking is vital during COVID

Source: Air Cargo Week

The year in pandemic has indeed proven the essential role of automation, IoT, blockchain and 5G technologies in cargo tracking especially when refilling medical supplies and medicines stock fast, safely and efficiently has been as crucial as ever.

ParceLive device is providing a solution with live tracking of cargo and infromation about the location, condition and security of their assets regardless of their country, method of transport, carrier or scale. As the industry is busy preparing for the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines, we will be curious to see the development of ParceLive.

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UNICEF will ship 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines to developing nations in 2021

Source: Reuters and WEF

As part of the COVAX initiative, co-led by Gavi, WHO and CEPI, UNICEF is working with the wolrd's airlines to organize the transportation of 2 billion COVD-19 vaccines to the developing countries in 2021. UNICEF plays the role of Logistics Control Tower as part of the COVAX Facility set up as the organization is the largest single syringe buyer in the world.

At the G20 summit last week, the leaders of the world's largest 20 economies have reaffirmed their commitment to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines and medical equipment to make sure the poor countries are not left out.

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These are the countries that have pre-ordered the most COVID vaccines

Source: Quartz and WEF

Although mathematical models predict that more people will die globally from COVID-19 if the rich countries vaccinate first, than if the vaccines are distributed equally, Canada, Japan, the UK, and the US have already pre-ordered enough vaccines to cover over 100% of their population. What is striking, is that this number comes from 3 most promising manufacturers at this moment: AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna.

Meanwhile, COVAX which is an initiative aiming to ensure fair distribution of vaccines including the developing world is facing a shortfall in funding to achieve its mission.

Image source: Duke Global Health Innovation Center

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Lufthansa Cargo and DB Schenker to operate first CO2-neutral freighter flights

Source: Air Cargo News

Lufthansa Cargo and DB Schenker have joined forces to carry out the first ever CO2-neutral freighter flights on 29 November powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The flight took place from Frankfurt to Shanghai on a Boeing 777 freighter aircraft.

According to both companies, air cargo has been doing more to reduce its environmental impact than the public is aware of. And SAF could provide the freal alternative to fossil aviation fuel and the key to climate-friendly, CO2-neutral air traffic. We'll be watching this space.

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