Cargo hub aims to become world leader in pharmaceuticals handling

FREIGHT KINGS: Singapore's Changi is the 14th largest airport by freight

Together with CAG, the partner companies who signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are Bollore Logistics, CEVA logistics Singapore, DHL Global Forwarding, dnata Singapore, Expeditors Singapore, Global Airfreight International, SATS, Schenker Singapore and Singapore Airlines Cargo. These nine companies, which span across each node of the air freight supply chain, have achieved the IATA Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators Certification for Pharmaceutical Handling (IATA CEIV Pharma).

As part of the MOU, the companies have promised to jointly pursue the best standards in pharmaceuticals handling, and promote Singapore Changi Airport as a trusted and reliable pharmaceuticals air freight hub in the region. This includes initiatives such as assessing new and emerging pharmaceutical logistics trends and technologies, as well as implementation of pilot projects.

Changi Airport Group’s Managing Director for Air Hub Development Mr Lim Ching Kiat, said: “As the first air cargo community in Asia Pacific to attain the IATA CEIV Pharma certification, the new Pharma@Changi initiative aims to further solidify the partnership among air cargo players at Changi Airport in strengthening Singapore’s capabilities, by jointly pursuing the best standards in pharmaceuticals air cargo handling. Over the last three years, pharmaceutical cargo has consistently ranked among the top five cargo types transported via airfreight globally, in terms of total value. In the first eight months of 2017, Changi Airport handled more than 15,500 tonnes of pharmaceutical cargo.”

IATA’s Senior Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security, Nick Careen said: “The Asian freight market is the largest in the world, accounting for 40% of total global trade. The creation of Pharma@Changi, by Changi Airport, one of the largest transportation hubs in South East Asia, is the first air cargo community in Asia Pacific. This is great news for the supply of pharmaceuticals across the region. Pharma shippers at Changi Airport can now be assured that they are receiving the highest quality service in terms of standardisation and transparency.”

Singapore Airlines Cargo’s President, Mr Chin Yau Seng, said: “We are proud to be part of Pharma@Changi. As part of this initiative, we endeavour to deepen our collaboration to achieve the highest standards of pharmaceutical handling, while upholding a reliable cool-chain network which extends beyond the Singapore hub, to Asia Pacific and the rest of the world. In addition, we will remain active in adopting new technology to meet customer needs.”

A leading freight hub in Asia and among the top 20 in the world for international airfreight, Changi Airport handled a record 1.97 million tonnes of cargo in 2016. At Changi Airfreight Centre, more than 300,000 sqm of temperature-controlled facilities (dnata Coolchain and SATS Coolport) with multi-tiered zones and individual cold rooms are equipped to handle temperature-sensitive cargo.

CAG is also part of Pharma.Aero, an alliance founded by Brussels and Miami Airport, committed to sharing best practices and market knowledge to improve pharmaceutical handling for the air cargo industry worldwide.