Visakhapatnam, September.23, 2025— The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), through its Institute of Logistics, hosted an interactive session in Visakhapatnam aimed at inspiring students and guiding them towards rewarding careers in the logistics sector. This initiative aligns with CII’s vision of positioning India as a “Global Logisticians Hub” under its mission “Logistics for All.”
Visakhapatnam, a major industrial and commercial centre in Andhra Pradesh, was an ideal host city for this outreach. The Visakhapatnam Port Authority, one of India’s key east coast ports, handled 82.62 MMT of cargo in 2024–25, supporting a thriving logistics and trade ecosystem. The city also hosts major PSUs like Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and HPCL-Visakha Refinery. The Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone (VSEZ) showcases its economic diversity, spanning pharmaceuticals, engineering, food processing, and IT. The organized industrial sector had providing employment in Lakhs . Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City alone employs 8,500 across 100 companies. The IT and ITeS sector continues to grow, with over 16,000 professionals and investments from Google and TCS. Andhra Pradesh’s Industrial Development and MSME & Entrepreneur Development Policies 4.0 (2024–29) aim to create 5 lakh manufacturing jobs. India’s logistics sector, driven by manufacturing, e-commerce, and GCCs, is projected to generate 1.5–1.7 crore jobs by 2030. Visakhapatnam stands poised to play a pivotal role in national and global supply chains.
In this context, CII’s Institute of Logistics is playing a pivotal role in workforce development. Through collaboration with policymakers, industry leaders, academia, and training institutions, CII is building a globally competitive logistics workforce. Key strategies include industry-aligned training programs with strong placement outcomes, career awareness initiatives for students in grades 10 and 12, and localized training centres in tier-2 and tier-3 cities to improve access. The institute is also developing globally recognized training content through international partnerships and working to harmonize standards with global industries to facilitate international placements.
Mr. K.V. Mahidhar, Executive Director & Head, CII-Institute of Logistics, stated,“Recognizing Visakhapatnam’s pivotal role as a strategic maritime hub and its vibrant industrial landscape, we aim to cultivate a skilled logistics workforce here. Our endeavour is to empower students with the expertise and insights including latest technological trends necessary to thrive in logistics, both domestically and internationally.”
CII is also promoting logistics as an aspirational career path by emphasizing gender diversity and inclusivity, ensuring opportunities reach across urban and rural geographies and cater to both SMEs and large enterprises. These initiatives not only support India’s economic development goals but also reinforce Visakhapatnam’s standing as a vital logistics hub for the country.
With logistics acting as a key enabler for Visakhapatnam’s diverse industrial base, the city stands at the crossroads of opportunity. CII’s focused engagement with students reflects its long-term commitment to shaping the next generation of logistics professionals and propelling India towards global leadership in supply chain excellence.