HYD Airport to offer blockchain-based real-time tracking of vaccines

March 26, 2021: GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo (GHAC), a division of GMR Air Cargo and Aerospace Engineering (GACAEL) announced a partnership with Singapore-based technology startup StaTwig to roll out a new technology-based solution for tracking and monitoring vaccine shipments handled at the airport’s cargo terminal.

The MoU giving effect to the partnership was signed by Saurabh Kumar, CEO-GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo and Sid Chakravarthy and Nrupul Ponugoti, co-founders - StaTwig Hyderabad.

The partnership brings together domain expertise of GMR Cargo and its time-tested relationships with vaccine exporters and Air Cargo trade with StaTwig’s Proven Blockchain platform to help this solution strengthen the supply chain of vaccine exports from India.

The development assumes significance given Hyderabad’s position as one of the biggest vaccine manufacturers globally, with the region set to produce over 3.5 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine doses over the next couple of years to aid the global battle against the pandemic.

Saurabh Kumar, CEO-GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo, said “This new technology product would enable us to deliver enhanced real-time visibility and status information on vaccine shipments to our customers. We are confident that the combination of GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo’s domain expertise in vaccine handling and StaTwig’s proven blockchain technology-based VaccineLedger platform will further strengthen the vaccine supply chain at this critical juncture in the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Pradeep Panicker, CEO-GHIAL, said “With this strategic partnership with StaTwig, GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo will further consolidate its position as one of the best gateways in India for vaccine shipment handling. GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo is expanding its capabilities both in infrastructure and technology to cater to the demand in vaccine shipments and is becoming a key facilitator in the fight against Covid.”

SGK Kishore, ED-South, chief innovation officer-GMR Airports, said “Technology and temperature-controlled supply chain are crucial elements in the fight against Covid. GMR has always been a pioneer when it comes to leveraging the latest technology to deliver enhanced value and better experience to our customers and airport infrastructure users. This partnership for ‘VaccineLedger’ is in line with the same focus on technological leadership and customer-centricity and we are hopeful that in these crucial times when every single vaccine counts, this strategic step will help ensure safe handling of vaccines.”