New Delhi, 5th July2024:
The Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) held their Annual Conclave themed “Unlocking Potential Paving Way for a Developed India” in New Delhi. The event aimed to foster collaborative brainstorming sessions to unlock the potential of international and domestic freight movements.
Mohan Yadav,Chief Minister – Madhya Pradesh was the Special Guest at the event along with other dignitaries, including Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary (Logistics and Trade), DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry), Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Jivisha Joshi Gangopadhyay, Deputy Secreetary, DPIIT Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
At the ACFI Annual Conclave 2024, the air cargo community was invigorated as all relevant stakeholders came together, including airports, GSAs, carrier partners, shippers, regulators, policymakers, and government authorities. The event aimed to collectively shape a vision spanning from shippers to buyers and other stakeholders in the supply chain ecosystem.The conclave brought together the entire Governing Board of ACFI, past presidents of the forum, and various stakeholders in the air cargo logistics and supply chain trade. This included senior government dignitaries, airlines, airport operators, cargo terminal operators, freight forwarders, sales agents, other trade associations, and express industry professionals.
Sharing his views, Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister – Madhya Pradesh said, “In this globally connected world, there is a crucial need for fast and efficient delivery, especially after COVID-19 which has taught us how unpredictable the future can be. Being the nation’s heart, Madhya Pradesh has been at the forefront of the logistics sector. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we have undertaken several projects in roadways, expressways, and Vande metro. Earlier, it used to take months to travel abroad, but today with the help of air cargo we are able to deliver goods to the farthest corner of the world, benefiting businesses and society simultaneously. I hope Madhya Pradesh will soon have an Air Cargo like Delhi and we have initiated work in this regard with several industries. I extend my best wishes for the conclave and hope Madhya Pradesh will be able to contribute to bringing together the air cargo industry as a cohesive force.”
Speaking at the event,Shri Piyush Srivasata, Sr. Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation said,“Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) is dedicated to building a world-class environmentally friendly air logistics industry that facilitates business and supports the aspirations of the new and advanced Viksit Bharat. Going forward, e-commerce and express delivery cargo will drive the future, making it crucial to maintain an airline clientele that is both high-value and low-volume. Additionally, stakeholders must remain cognizant and aware of optimizing processes and reducing turnaround times. Regulatory improvements have increased the ease of doing business and I strongly believe that the government will do what needs to be done to maintain this upward trajectory. As we leapfrog to achieve a $ 5 trillion economy by 2024-25, we need to adopt the best practices as per our need for rapid and sustainable growth of the Indian Economy.”
The conclave covered three business sessions, capturing the possibilities, opportunities, challenges, and strategies within the air cargo sector to catapult India to become a developed nation.The sessions emphasized key topics–”Soaring Ambitions: Building India’s Air Cargo Capacity, paving way for a Developed India”, “Collaborative Horizons: Unlocking Customer Expectations” and “Future Skies: Transforming Air Cargo Through Technology, Innovation and Sustainability.”These were moderated by keyACFI Governing Board Members Mr. Sanjiv Edward, Mr. Satish Lakkaraju,andMr. Keku Bomi Gazder.
Yashpal Sharma – President ACFI said, “A developed India requires significant advancement from our current state of growth. However, it is important to remember that this growth must be unanimous, driven by elevating skill sets, job opportunities, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. The Indian aviation sector is poised to witness a 3X growth, leveraging the robust supply chain we have established. To fully capitalize on this opportunity, we must continuously innovate in our businesses and upskill our workforce. I truly believe that Air Cargo has the right potential and scope for empowering businesses worldwide. I am certain that this holistic approach will not only strengthens the industry’s current capabilities but also lay a strong foundation for future growth and success.”
The ACFI Annual Conclave 2024 also featured a strong line-up of eminent speakers, including Peter Penseel, President, Delta Air Lines, Manoj Singh, Chief Cargo Officer, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd., Capt. Nikhil B. Ved, Managing Director, Blue Dart Aviation Ltd., Vishal Bhatnagar, Managing Director, Global Cargo Operations, Delta Air Lines, Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, IAG Cargo, Vaibhav Vohra, Managing Director, Continental Carriers Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Ajay Sahai, DG & CEO, Federation of Indian Export Organisations, Tia Bhaduri Mohan, Director – Ocean & Air Transport Planning, Electrolux,Alok Kumar Singh, Director – Global Logistics & Warehouse, VVDN Technologies,Aram Lee, Country Head, Samsung SDS, Ramesh Mamidala, Head Cargo Commercial, Air India Limited, Mark Sutch, Chief Commercial Officer Cargo, Indigo, Yashpal Sharma, Managing Director, Skyways Group, A-lAnood Al-Suwaidi, SVP Cargo for Middle East, Africa and Asia Region, Menzies Aviation, Dr. Jivisha Joshi Gangopadhyay, Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Halit Tuncer, Cargo Director South Asia, Turkish Airlines, Soham Chokshi, Chief Executive Officer, Shipsy, Mr. Zvi Schreiber, Founder and CEO, Freightos Group, as well as Kamesh Peri, Chief Executive Officer, Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India Private Limited.
The ACFI Conclave focused on leveraging innovative technologies, integrating processes, adopting best global practices and accelerating the pace of change, and its business sessions will deliberate various opportunities, possibilities, challenges & action items for the Indian Air Cargo industry to get 10 Million MT by 2030-31.
“The ACFI Annual Conclave 2024 served as a prestigious gathering of the most brilliant minds in India’s air cargo sector, offering a platform for addressing the industry’s most pressing challenges and exploring its most promising opportunities. This distinguished event showcased ACFI’s commitment to elevating the air freight industry by harnessing its inherent strengths, navigating the complexities of international air cargo, and unlocking the vast potential of the domestic market. The conclave’s thought-provoking discussions and innovative insights have set a new benchmark for industry collaboration and strategic foresight, making it an indispensable event for leaders shaping the future of air cargo in India and beyond,”remarked Mr. Satish Lakkaraju, Chairman – ACFI Event Management Task Pillar and ACFI Governing Board Member.
During the conclave, two iconic books were launched that are pertinent to the growth of the Air Cargo Industry – 1.Wings of Trade that encapsulates the journey & growth as well as future roadmap of Air Cargo and 2.ACFI training Manual based on skilling efforts within the sector.
The ACFI Annual Conclave culminated in an exclusive gala dinner event designated for the ACFI Innovation Awards night, where industry luminaries and innovators gathered to honour and celebrate the most groundbreaking ideas in the air cargo sector. The top nominations were filed with a whooping 46 nominations for the 5 Award Categories. The winners for each category are listed here:
Innovatopia Award for Enhanced Customer Experience – Etihad Cargo; Innovatopia Award in Competitiveness- FedEx Express Transportation and Supply Chain Services (India) Pvt Ltd; Innovatopia Award in Air Cargo Safety & Security- GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo; Innovatopia Award in Digitization- Kale Logistics Solutions Private Limited; Innovatopia Award for Sustainability & Go Green efforts-BLUJ Aerospace Private Limited.
The conclave also provided ample networking opportunities, enabling delegates to establish connections with potential collaborators, mentors, and industry leaders. This interaction is crucial for nurturing a community-driven approach to foster innovation within the air cargo sector.
