India has been elected as the vice-chair of the Supply Chain Council (SCC) under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). This council works on making supply chains stronger and more reliable for its 14 member countries.
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
The IPEF was launched on May 23, 2022, in Tokyo. It includes 14 countries:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Fiji
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Korea
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Vietnam
- United States
The IPEF focuses on four main areas:
- Trade
- Supply Chain Resilience
- Clean Economy
- Fair Economy
Structure of the Supply Chain Initiative
The IPEF has three councils to handle different supply chain issues:
- Supply Chain Council (SCC): Improves supply chain security and economic health.
- Crisis Response Network (CRN): Helps countries work together during emergencies that disrupt supply chains.
- Labour Rights Advisory Board (LRAB): Deals with workers’ rights issues.
India’s Role
Being elected as vice-chair of the SCC is significant for India. The council aims to:
- Reduce reliance on China.
- Improve communication about potential supply problems.
Objectives of the Councils
- Supply Chain Council (SCC): Focuses on national security, public health, and economic stability by improving supply chain efficiency.
- Crisis Response Network (CRN): Aims for coordinated emergency responses during supply chain crises.
- Labour Rights Advisory Board (LRAB): Brings together workers, employers, and governments to improve labor rights across regional supply chains.
Future Meetings and Plans
The first meetings have set the stage for future cooperation, including plans for face-to-face meetings. The SCC’s first in-person meeting is planned for September 2024 in Washington, alongside the Supply Chain Summit.
About Supply Chain Council
The SCC was started in 2003 to make supply chains more efficient. It created the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model, a standard way to manage supply chains. Initially, the SCC was run by its members and focused on collaboration between companies. In 2014, it merged with APICS to become APICS Supply Chain Council, gaining more resources. The SCOR model includes performance measures, best practices, and processes. The SCC also offered training and certifications in supply chain management, focusing on continuous improvement and operational excellence.
