ACFI launches Kerala Chapter, elects new Chairman

Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) launched its Kerala Chapter under the chairmanship of Manoj P Joseph, Cargo In-charge, Cochin International Airport. With an experience of over two decades under his belt, he is a veteran in the airport and aviation sector. Kerala Chapter Board members will be selected by the ACFI Governing Board and Secretariat in due course of time to boost air cargo trade in the region, advocate regulatory changes with authorities, upskilling by conducting trainings, events, and workshops, and invite collaboration with fellow trade bodies to steer the sector in Kerala and at national level. The chapter’s aim is to align itself with ACFI Head Office and drive common goals of promoting the industry to bring it on par with the best global air cargo ecosystems. The four airports covered under the Kerala chapter are: Cochin International Airport, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Calicut International Airport, and Kannur International Airport. The occasion saw participation from over 100 delegates of air cargo and aviation industry, some ACFI Governing Board Members and senior leaders from various trade associations, including Steamer Association, Indian Chamber of Commerce, FICCI, ACAAI, AMTOI, FFFAI and CCBA.
S Suhas IAS, MD, Cochin International Airport was the event’s chief guest and Yashpal Sharma, President, ACFI and Managing Director, Skyways Group presided over. Sanjiv Edward, VP, ACFI and CEO, Cargo & Logistics, GMR Group, Satish Lakkaraju, Chairman, Event Management Task Pillar, ACFI, and Global Head, Air Freight & Pharma, WIZ Freight, and Kamesh Peri, Governing Board Member, ACFI, and CEO, Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management, were also present.
Joseph said, “As the Chairman, I must maintain close ties with every Task Force Pillar under the ACFI umbrella. This will ensure the effective execution of our initiatives in the region, with the support of the ACFI President and federation members. My vision is to set up links between the new chapter and the vital players in air cargo and supply chain sector in Kerala. The realm of air freight is undergoing a transformative phase, driven by advancements in technology, evolving regulations, shifting processes, and business environments. This change marks the role of air cargo, and I am dedicated to navigating and embracing these changes for the benefit of our industry.”
Yashpal Sharma, President, ACFI, said, ‘’ACFI is dedicated to development of a world-class air cargo ecosystem in India, one that adheres to the highest global standards. I hold the belief that India’s air cargo infra should serve as a model admired for its scale, efficiency, and swift delivery, even by the advanced economies globally. I believe the Kerala Chapter will play a pivotal role in our pursuit to set up an air cargo framework that will soon be recognized as a global standard. The new chapter will ably align itself with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation’s ambitious target of achieving 10 million MT by 2030-31. However, accomplishing this goal requires focusing on process enhancements, collaborating with various entities such as Participating Government Agencies at airports, regulators, shippers, freighters, airlines.”