Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the National Logistics Policy (NLP) on Saturday at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the need for a national policy was felt since the logistics cost in India is high compared to other developed economies.

“It is imperative to reduce the logistics cost in India for improving the competitiveness of Indian goods both in domestic as well as export markets. Reduced logistics cost improves efficiency cutting across various sectors of the economy, encouraging value addition and enterprise,” said a statement by the PMO. It further said that the government has put significant emphasis on improving both Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living since 2014.

“National Logistics Policy, a comprehensive effort to address issues of high cost and inefficiency by laying down an overarching interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral and multi-jurisdictional framework for the development of the entire logistics ecosystem, is yet another step in this direction,” the statement said. The policy is an endeavour to improve the competitiveness of Indian goods, enhancing economic growth and increasing employment opportunities.