Elected Vice President, IPEF Supply Chain Council India

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India has been elected Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council (SCC) under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). This role is an important step for India as the Council focuses on strengthening and securing supply chains in its 14 member countries.

IPEF overview

IPEF was launched on May 23, 2022 in Tokyo and includes Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States.

The framework is built around four key pillars: trade, supply chain resilience, clean economy and fair economy.

Structure and purpose of the council

IPEF has established 3 councils to deal with various aspects of supply chain management:

1. Supply Chain Council (SCC)

The council works on enhancing supply chain security and economic health.

2.Crisis Response Network (CRN)

The CRN coordinates joint responses to supply chain disruptions due to emergencies.

3. Labor Rights Advisory Board (LRAB)

LRAB addresses labor rights issues within regional supply chains.

Status of India

The appointment of India as Vice-Chair of the SCC represents a major step forward. The council's primary focus is to reduce dependence on China and improve transparency about potential supply chain issues.

future plans

The SCC plans to hold its first in-person meeting in Washington in September 2024, coinciding with the Supply Chain Summit. It marks the beginning of more face-to-face dialogue to strengthen cooperation between member countries.

Historical context

Founded in 2003, SCC was originally dedicated to improving supply chain efficiency and has developed the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model, a standardized framework for supply chain management.

In 2014, SCC merged with APICS to become the APICS Supply Chain Council, expanding its resources and focus. The SCOR model provides performance measurement, best practices, and procedures, and the SCC provides training and certification emphasizing continuous improvement and operational excellence.