Safexpress to roll out 14 logistics parks

Lured by a huge growth opportunity for the warehousing business in India, Safexpress Private Ltd, is all set to launch 14 logistics parks in the country over the next three months. The leading supply chain and logistics company inaugurated its high tech logistics park in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

Safexpress recently rolled out its largest state-of-the-art logistics park in Nagpur spread across massive 11.90 lakh sq. ft. After Nagpur and Ahmedabad, the company is looking at starting its logistics facilities in Kolkata, Chennai and Gurgaon. "Over the next three months, we will inaugurate 14 logistics park across the country", said Pawan Jain, CMD, Safexpress said on the launch of its high-tech logistics park spread across 2.74 lakh sq. ft. at Changodar industrial area in Ahmedabad.

The company has invested Rs. 22 crore for the Ahmedabad unit and it plans to pump in around Rs. 1,000 crore over the next four to five years for putting up 32 logistics parks in the country. "There is a huge growth opportunity for the warehousing business in India. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are one of the major drivers of the growth in this business", said Vineet Kanaujia, general manager marketing, Safexpress.

The company, which has 562 offices across the country and trucks of 3,500 vehicles, is adding 5 million sq. ft of area in next two years.

Currently, the company already has the space of 5 million sq. ft. In order to further speed up its expansion plans, the company has created a land bank of 1,100 acres of land.

Safexpress has ended the fiscal 2008-09 with a total turnover of Rs. 650 crore and it hopes to achieve a mark of Rs. 1,000 crore by the year 2010. At present, its provides logistics services to around 5,000 companies in the country. However, economic slowdown is taking its toll on almost all the sectors of the indian industry and logistics business is no exception.

Country's leading supply chain and logistics company-Safexpress-believes that around 7 to 8 per cent demand has taken a hit due to economic turmoil.

"Demand for logistics services in readymade garments, apparels and textile has taken a hit of 40 per cent", said Pawan Jain.