Scenario Analysis of Aggregate Model of ECOWAS Freight Transport Volumes: An Imperative for Adoption of Short Sea Shipping (Published)
This paper shows the effect of changes in GDP, population, foreign trade and seaport access corridors of ECOWAS member countries, especially the littoral States, on the growth of freight volumes of their respective economies. The aim of the paper is to recommend a short sea shipping model for the ECOWAS sub-region, to reduce the cost per transported unit within the sub-region and predict the growth of short sea shipping freight in ECOWAS economies. The research is based on cross-sectional data from ECOWAS countries spanning from 2000 to 2013 and sourced from the ECOWAS Commission and National Bureaus of Statistics of some member countries. The research also showed that the development of short sea shipping model in the sub-region would depend considerably on growth in GDP, improvement in the productivity of the population and increase in seaport corridors of the ECOWAS sub-region. This model provides a useful framework for forecasting short-sea shipping freight for the ECOWAS sub-region. Despite the ECOWAS efforts at promoting policies to encourage intra-regional cooperation based on its advantages in terms of energy efficiency, improved intermodality and environmental safety, short sea shipping remains undeveloped compared to road transport mode. The paper concludes that funding opportunities in the sub-region have not offered the right incentives and support to promote short sea shipping. Some critical factors such as the crucial role of port infrastructure and its characteristics have not been taken into full consideration by transport policymakers in the sub-region. This paper suggests the need for ECOWAS member states to prioritise investment in the development of short sea shipping capacity, including the supportive port infrastructure as well as improvement of the entire transport system efficiency.
Keywords: Ecowas, Freight, Short-sea, Transport, shipping
Prospectus of Bangladesh in Developing Intermodal Freight Transportation Network in South Asia (Published)
Asia is the destination of world trader because of its significance growth and sustainability after the economic downturn in 2008. In addition, South Asia is a place of development because of world giant India and renewed readymade garments manufacturer Bangladesh. Furthermore, Bangladesh is playing a vital role because of her position in the Bay of Bengal as worthwhile sea access points of the South Asia, South-East Asia and South-West part of China. Driven in particular, recent movement of business towards Asia and South Asia, Bangladesh has the opportunity to provide transport service in the region because of its lucrative maritime gateway and extensions of dry port, low cost in managing freight transport also the opportunity to build transport network of rail, road and river. Remarkably, recent development initiative by India exclusively for basically landlocked area Seven Sister or NE part of India, landlocked countries Nepal and Bhutan , additionally , development initiative by China for developing SW part exclusively by Silk Route, overall, increased the responsibilities of Bangladesh for modeling integrated transport network. This paper is trying to discuss on port reformation, intermodal freight transportation system and related infrastructure development that are required by Bangladesh to do “Transport Business” in the region. Greatly, open access policy for neighbors and international trade and public private partnership initiative for infrastructure development that will create the opportunity for Bangladesh to act as integrated service provider of intermodal freight transportation in the region extremely. However, political openness and stable government along with role of government and attitude of businessman and investors are important to create such structure of intermodal freight transportation in Bangladesh. Lastly, this paper tried to set some future directions on the basis of literature review and discussion on intermodal freight transportation.
Keywords: Asia, Bay of Bengal, Freight, Infrastructure, Intermodal, Silk Route
Assessing the Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) On the Performance of Freight Distribution (Published)
The application and development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have already had significant effects on many industries, especially in the field of freight distribution. This paper examines the impact of ICT on the performance of freight distribution in terms of supply chain, logistics and fleet management. A survey was conducted to 77 ICT users from 22 companies consisting of 6 manufacturers, 5 third part logistics, 4 freight forwarders, 5 warehouse operators, 8 wholesalers and retailers. A descriptive statistical analysis was used to analysis the data obtained. One of the major findings of the research is the impact level of ICT use by Freight industries in Lagos and Ogun State which falls into moderate impact on their performance as majority of them only use the low technology for information gathering. It was discovered that the major barrier to use of ICT is the acquisition cost. Government needs to promote a sharing of knowledge about the use and the role of ICT in logistics with logistics firms by facilitating a demonstration of technology solution and expand innovative public and private financing methods in generating finance and building skills for the development of ICT capacity
Keywords: 3PLs, 4PL, Freight, Globalization, ICT, Internet, Logistics, infomediary
Assessing the Impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) On the Performance of Freight Distribution (Published)
The application and development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have already had significant effects on many industries, especially in the field of freight distribution. This paper examines the impact of ICT on the performance of freight distribution in terms of supply chain, logistics and fleet management. A survey was conducted to 77 ICT users from 22 companies consisting of 6 manufacturers, 5 third part logistics, 4 freight forwarders, 5 warehouse operators, 8 wholesalers and retailers. A descriptive statistical analysis was used to analysis the data obtained. One of the major findings of the research is the impact level of ICT use by Freight industries in Lagos and Ogun State which falls into moderate impact on their performance as majority of them only use the low technology for information gathering. It was discovered that the major barrier to use of ICT is the acquisition cost. Government needs to promote a sharing of knowledge about the use and the role of ICT in logistics with logistics firms by facilitating a demonstration of technology solution and expand innovative public and private financing methods in generating finance and building skills for the development of ICT capacity
Keywords: 3PLs, 4PL, Freight, Globalization, ICT, Internet, Logistics, infomediary