Integrated logistics solutions provider Mahindra Logistics plans to launch nationwide Community Centers of Excellence (CCoE) in partnership with Logistics Skill Council, a not-for-profit organisation set up by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, to address the shortage of skilled workers in the logistics sector.

These centers will provide beneficiaries with skill development training and certification in warehousing, transportation, and other supply chain operations while generating employment opportunities for them, the company said in a statement.

In the first phase, Mahindra Logistics launched its first CCoE in Bhiwandi, to be followed by another in Guwahati within Q1FY25. Both the centers, together, aim to train over 500 individuals in FY25 including those from underprivileged backgrounds, women, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ community.

“Our association with the Logistics Skill Council is poised to not only mitigate the shortage of skilled workers but also to spearhead a transformative shift in the sector’s dynamics. This initiative will address the need for skilled workers in the logistics sector as well as absorb 30 per cent of the workforce into our operations,” Rampraveen Swaminathan, MD and Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra Logistics, said.

Mahindra Logistics Community Centre of Excellence serves as a catalyst to equip both semi-skilled and unskilled workforce in India’s logistics sector through meticulously crafted training modules, encompassing theoretical learning and practical hands-on experience.

As the logistics industry in India is one of the largest employment sectors providing livelihoods to over 22 million people, imparting industry-relevant skills and certifications will ensure continued growth in the Indian logistics landscape.