By: Hub News

India’s Northeast could emerge as a key logistics bridge between Southeast Asia and the Middle East, following a high-level meeting facilitated by the Emerging North-East Eco Forum (ENEEF) between Thailand’s SCGJWD Logistics and Dubai-based Transworld Group.

The strategic meeting was held on August 14 at the headquarters of The Siam Cement Public Company Limited (SCG) in Bangkok, bringing together senior representatives of the two logistics majors to explore potential cooperation in cargo movement, warehousing, cold-chain infrastructure and multimodal connectivity linking ASEAN, India and the Middle East.

For the Northeast, the discussions are significant as the region seeks to translate the Centre’s Act East policy into stronger trade and investment links with Southeast Asia.

Two logistics networks, one emerging corridor

The meeting brought together two companies with substantial logistics infrastructure across the geographies that India’s Act East ambitions seek to connect.

SCGJWD Logistics, listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand as SJWD, is among ASEAN’s largest integrated logistics and supply-chain service providers. The company operates across nine countries and southern China, with more than two million square metres of warehousing and a major cold-storage network serving sectors including automotive, FMCG, pharmaceuticals and perishables.

Dubai-headquartered Transworld Group, founded in 1977, has nearly five decades of experience in shipping and logistics. Its operations span ship owning, liner and feeder services, freight forwarding and contract logistics, with a presence across India and the Gulf.

Together, the two groups bring complementary strengths—SCGJWD’s deep Southeast Asian logistics network and Transworld’s established footprint across India and the Middle East.

Why the Northeast matters

For the Northeast, the bigger opportunity lies beyond simply moving goods through the region.

Reliable logistics infrastructure—including cold chains, modern warehouses, air cargo facilities and multimodal transport links—is increasingly viewed as a prerequisite for attracting manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceuticals and other investment.

A stronger logistics network could help horticultural and agricultural products from the eight northeastern states reach ASEAN markets while creating more dependable routes for pharmaceuticals, perishables and other time-sensitive cargo.

It could also strengthen the commercial case for trade corridors linking the Northeast with Southeast Asia through the Bay of Bengal and overland routes.

ENEEF believes such connectivity can help reduce one of the region’s longstanding investment barriers: the cost and uncertainty associated with moving goods.

“Meaningful regional cooperation begins with trusted connections and credible partners. When two groups of this scale sit across the table and see the Northeast as a bridge rather than a periphery, the region’s economic story changes,” said Satyajit Aribam, Founder and Chairman of ENEEF.

ENEEF as a facilitator

ENEEF said it identified the complementary capabilities of the two logistics groups and facilitated the engagement between their decision-makers.

The two organisations identified areas of mutual interest and agreed to remain engaged as specific opportunities are explored further.

The forum sees the engagement as part of a broader effort to position Northeast India as an operating link between India, ASEAN and the wider Indo-Pacific economic space.