Why logistics will decide India’s manufacturing future? | APAR Industries’ Venkateswara Rao

In this insightful conversation, Venkateswara Rao, Head of Logistics at APAR Industries, breaks down how logistics is evolving from a cost centre into a true profit driver. He shares real-world experiences from handling complex supply chains across companies like Vedanta and Jindal Stainless, and explains how infrastructure gaps, rising costs, and digital transformation are shaping India’s logistics landscape. From the imbalance between eastern and western logistics infrastructure to the need for faster execution on ground, Rao offers a grounded, practical view of where India stands today.

In conversation with Libin Chacko Kurian, Assistant Editor, STAT Publishing Group, this interview was recorded during the air cargo & transport logistic India 2026 exhibitions in Mumbai. Rao also dives into how APAR Industries is leveraging AI, digital tools, and customer-centric logistics strategies to scale across 140+ countries—while maintaining its global leadership in conductors, cables, and specialty oils.