Changi Airport Group (CAG) has formalised the Pharma@Changi initiative, a community of partners from the air cargo supply chain who will work towards strengthening Changi’s capabilities to handle pharmaceuticals.
The partner companies who signed the memorandum of understanding are Bollore Logistics, CEVA Logistics Singapore, DHL Global Forwarding, dnata Singapore, Expeditors Singapore, Global Airfreight International, SATS, Schenker Singapore and Singapore Airlines Cargo.
These companies have all achieved International Air Transport Association Center of Excellence for Independent Validators Certification in Pharmaceutical Handling (IATA CEIV Pharma) and they will jointly pursue the best standards in pharmaceutical handling and promote Changi as a trusted are reliable pharmaceutical air cargo hub in the region.
Initiatives will include assessing new and emerging pharmaceutical logistics trends and technologies, as well as implementing of pilot projects.
CAG managing director for air hub development, Lim Ching Kiat says: “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 senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security, Nick Careen says: “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.”
Changi Airport handled 1.97 million tonnes of cargo in 2016, and the Changi Airfreight Centre has more than 300,000 square metres of temperature controlled facilities with multi-tiered zones and individual cold rooms equipped to handle temperature sensitive cargo.
CAG is also part of Pharma.Aero, an alliance founded by Brussels Airport and Miami International Airport to share best practices and market knowledge to improve pharmaceutical handling for the air cargo industry.
