It was expected to become one of the world’s largest manufacturing and export economies; global supply chains were diversifying beyond China; Kiwi exporters increasingly needed logistics support into India; and Indian companies were expanding globally, requiring integrated freight, warehousing and customs solutions.
Mumbai was chosen as the entry point because it is India’s leading international freight hub. The city serves as Mainfreight’s India headquarters and gateway for air and ocean freight.
Braid says the business is growing. “If we didn’t have reins on our local manager or local leadership, they’d have us in another 10 or 20 locations.
“But we want to take it a step at a time and make sure we’re profitable and doing a good job for our customers.”
He says the India-NZ FTA has prompted more inquiries from potential customers but has yet to generate more freight.
“Our view at all times is that trade is an important part of the world economy. It’s what makes the world go round.
“Certainly our expansion has been on the back of customers asking us to go to different countries and finding trade opportunities. And of course, once we’re there, we then get to explore what might come from actually being located in the country.
“That’s certainly been the case for India. We opened with only a very small amount of trade but we’ve managed to grow. We’d like to be bigger, but it’ll come. And we have to be patient.”