This week was to have seen our own Automotive Logistics India conference take place in Mumbai. The attacks there forced many attendees to cancel their travel, so the event has been re-scheduled for 20-22 January 2009. The venue at the Renaissance Hotel is the same.
Speakers and delegates have been supportive of the move, and all sponsorships and other commitments have remained in place.
Conference Director Louis Yiakoumi said: "Many delegates contacted us with advice, and we talked to partners in India and elsewhere about the decision to re-schedule."
"The principal objective of Automotive Logistics India," he added, "is to bring together executives from India’s automotive industry, to share expertise both within the country and from key mature markets in Europe and America. Without the significant attendance from outside India, a major part of this objective could not be met."
Travel restrictions had also been imposed within India by some of the major automotive companies.
Yiakoumi added: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life in Mumbai but pleased that this conference, in focusing on the expanding automotive industry in India, will also in some small way contribute to the continued success of this splendid city.”
Senior industry speakers re-confirmed for the event include: MM Singh, who is both Managing Director for production at Maruti Suzuki and chairman of the Logistics Committee of India’s automakers association SIAM; SK Krishnan, Senior General Manager for supply chain at Mahindra & Mahindra; Suresh Puloor, Manager of Logistics Planning and Control at Toyota Kirloskar Motor; and Wang Yibing, Logistics Manager for India for General Motors.
The conference has a special stream dedicated to the use of rail. These sessions have been initiated by SIAM, which is keen to attract delegates with expertise of this mode from outside India.
Registrations have re-opened. Details and other conference information at www.automotivelogisticsindia.com