Dr. Surendra K Ahirwar, ED, Traffic Commercial (Rates) and Business Development, Ministry of Railways said, “At present, in India, both geopolitical crises and geo-economic crises going on together. It is posing huge challenge to global supply chain. It is also increasing the intensity of  complexity and uncertainty of global supply chains. Great alliances, ties, relationships with other countries is the solution for this. In such a situation we can rely on those we share great trade relations with to improve resilience. Importance of alliances is crucial during crises.”

Jivisha Joshi, Deputy Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry said, “With the ease of doing business, it is very important to understand the cost of doing business. EoDB comes from the costs that it involves. For example, it has become important to understand and adopt sustainable business practices, green logistics, industry understands it, but there’s a cost involved. It should be feasible for all. So, if we talk about changing regulatory policies, we must understand the impact it will have on the businesses. Everything involves costs that should be considered too.”  

CK Govil, President, ACAAI said, “India’s air cargo trade is witnessing remarkable growth, driven by rapid digitalisation, a strong focus on sustainability and increased collaboration across the supply chain. By embracing advanced technologies, streamlining operations and implementing green logistics practices, India has significantly enhanced efficiency and resilience in its cargo ecosystem. These progressive efforts have positioned India as a benchmark in the Asia-Pacific region, setting new standards for innovation and integrated growth in the air freight sector.”

Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi, FIATA Region Asia-Pacific Chair said, “The Asia-Pacific region continues to serve as a manufacturing and e-commerce powerhouse, and this dynamic offers considerable growth opportunities. In the next 2–3 years, increased cross-border e-commerce, rising demand for high-value and time-sensitive goods, and the integration of digital platforms will be key drivers. Emerging economies in Southeast Asia are also investing in air cargo infrastructure, opening new trade lanes and regional gateways. In addition, the push for supply chain diversification is creating new logistics patterns and demand for reliable air cargo solutions.

  “India is well positioned to take up challenges and take India on a high growth trajectory including digitalisation, capacity building , coordination and collaborations,” said Surjit Bhujbal, member – customs, CBIC, at the ongoing FIATA RAP Meet. “Customs is in a strong position and is providing necessary support we need in International trade. India has a lot of potential to become global cargo hub with new infrastructure getting build up, new facilities coming and cargo industry wanting to have more space and improved connectivity both in courier as well as standard cargo transfers.”

While speaking at the ongoing FIATA RAP Meet, Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, MoCA said, “The initiatives like PMGS and NLP taken by the govt of India to promote air cargo and logistics trade are known worldwide. Today, we have over 100 cargo facilities across India to facilitate trade and for efficient cargo movement. We are also focusing on improving ease of doing business. Last year we ordered over 2000 aircraft to improve connectivity. We have UDAN scheme in place to boost regional connectivity, pax operations and belly capacities for cargo movement. We have also allowed non-scheduled freighter operations in India which means any international carrier can land at Indian airports at any time. FIATA and ACAAI together have done great job by organising this event which will help the industry stakeholders to come along, collaborate and discuss new ideas and innovate. Also, I would like to discuss with FIATA about the international regulations for dangerous goods and will coordinate with DGCA too regarding this segment which is crucial. With this event, FIATA and ACAAI are helping freight forward and ground handlers.”

The day two of the ongoing FIATA RAP Meet 2025 in New Delhi commenced with traditional inauguration, and the dignified and symbolic lamp lighting ceremony, marking the beginning of a gathering that brought together key stakeholders from the international cargo trade. Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, MoCA and  Surjit Bhujbal, Member,  Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), graced the occasion as the Chief Guests. Turgut Erkeskin, President FIATA, CK Govil, President ACAAI, and Bui Trung Thuong, Trade Counsellor, Embassy of Vietnam also gave their welcome speeches. Keynote speech was given by MR Venkatesh, Eminent Economist and Vote of Thanks was given by Samir J Shah, VP, ACAAI. The gathering showcased the spirit of collaboration and progress that the event aims to foster within the global cargo ecosystem. The dignitaries jointly lit the lamp, signifying the shared vision and commitment to innovation, connectivity and sustainable growth in air cargo.

Air India has made its first-ever airport-to-door international cargo delivery. The destination is a warehouse in Brussels – a city not directly served by Air India, and the shipment is six tonnes of life-saving pharmaceuticals that need to stay cool and effective until reaching their destination. The shipment, courtesy of SUN Pharma, was packed into four lower-deck pallets. These drugs require a steady 15 to 25 degrees Celsius to remain effective. The pallets were carefully loaded onto an Air India flight to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and after landing in Paris, the pallets were transferred to a cool Road Feeder Service (RFS) truck, maintaining that perfect temperature as it rolls through Europe to Brussels. Exactly 36 hours after leaving Delhi, the drugs arrived at the consignee’s warehouse. Transporting pharmaceuticals requires specialised logistics and high levels of precision. Air India recently received the Good Distribution Practices (GDP) certification for its cargo business, a testament to the airline’s compliance with international guidelines for safe and secure distribution of pharmaceuticals. Ramesh Mamidala, Head of Cargo, Air India, said, “With the GDP certification, we have now become India’s only carrier with trained staff to manage active pharmaceuticals. These first shipments of our new airport-to-door service is a step forward in progressively pivoting our cargo offering from ‘airport-to-airport’ to world-class ‘airport-to-door’ services, delivered to the highest standards. It’s not just about getting it there, it’s about getting it there right – with precision.”

While, the FIATA RAP Meet 2025 opens today in New Delhi, its preparations were in full swing, with industry leaders, logistics experts and government representatives indulging in insightful discussions and strategic networking in New Delhi on Wednesday. The FIATA President and Secretary General met Senior Economic Advisor, MoCA, Piyush Srivastava to discuss various issues concerning handling of cargo and also invited him to the ACAAI FIATA RAP 2025 event starting today. The meet will focus on critical topics such as sustainability, digital transformation and supply chain resilience. Stakeholders will also be coordinating to showcase cutting-edge technologies and forge new partnerships, ensuring the event fosters innovation and collaboration across the global air cargo community.

  Astral Aviation has added a Boeing 767-300 freighter as part of plans to renew its fleet, expand its capacity and fly longer distances, said official LinkedIn Post. The post added that the carrier had dry-leased the aircraft, which has extended range capabilities and a payload capacity of 52 tons. “We are thrilled to announce the arrival of our newly dry-leased Boeing 767-300F (MSN 24146 / Reg 5Y SVR), marking another milestone in Astral Aviation’s commitment to expanding our cargo capabilities and enhancing service reliability across our network,” said post. The airline added: “The 767-300F – a proven, efficient, and versatile freighter—will strengthen our ability to serve key markets with increased payload capacity, range, and operational flexibility.”