ACFI Conclave 2025 to spotlight India’s air cargo vision on July 11

The Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) will convene the fourth edition of its Annual Conclave on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Taj Palace in New Delhi. The conclave will be inaugurated by Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation of India, and is expected to draw over 500 delegates representing policymakers, air cargo leaders, government advisors, global logistics platforms and industry think tanks. During the event, Minister Naidu is expected to outline the Government of India’s roadmap toward achieving its target of 10 million metric tonnes of air cargo throughput by 2030, highlighting policy initiatives and infrastructure priorities driving this vision.

The conclave comes at a pivotal time for India’s air cargo sector as it positions itself as a key global logistics hub amid shifting supply chains. The day-long agenda will feature strategic discussions on resilience through innovation, sustainability, e-commerce growth, cargo security, and future-ready policy frameworks.

A white paper titled “India’s Air Cargo Horizon: Seizing Global Reroutes, Regional Dominance and Resilience” will be launched during the event. Developed by ACFI in collaboration with Ascel Advisors, the report outlines actionable pathways for India to enhance its competitiveness, capture global re-routing opportunities, and build long-term sectoral resilience.

“ACFI is organising the fourth edition of its Annual Conclave. Over the last three editions, our emphasis has been on the topics of critical interest for the Indian Air Cargo sector. Each year, we raise the bar, but this time we have designed the event to be even more forward-looking and action-oriented, with a stronger focus on collaboration between government, industry, and technology partners. Unlike previous events, this year we are introducing policy dialogues, innovation showcases, and concrete roadmaps to align India’s air cargo sector with global best practices,” said Sanjiv Edward, President of ACFI and CEO of GMR Group.

He further noted, “Since last year's conclave, we have taken several initiatives that have helped position India as a more efficient, innovative and globally competitive air cargo hub. We have also brought in diverse stakeholders from across India and globally, making it the most inclusive and impactful gathering of minds yet.”

A major milestone at the conclave will be the signing of two MoUs—one with the Government of Tripura to unlock the Northeast’s cargo potential, and another with The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) to deepen international engagement and knowledge exchange.

Speakers at the event will include:Glyn Hughes, Director General, The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA); Mark Sutch, Chief Commercial Officer – IndiGo; Joyce Tai, Executive Vice President, Freightos Group; Keku Bomi Gazder, Managing Director & CEO, Aviapro Logistics Services; Ramesh Mamidala, Head Cargo, Air India; Satish Lakkaraju, Chief Executive Officer, Nexgen Logistics; P. Balasubramanian, Founder & CEO, Air Cargo Consultancy International Services (ACCIS); Rajesh Menon, Regional Head of Cargo – South Asia, Middle East, and Africa, Cathay Pacific Airways; and Piyush Srivastava, Senior Economic Advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The conclave will also feature fireside chats, interactive sessions, and a high-level panel on Viksit Bharat @2047 aimed at shaping India’s next-gen cargo ecosystem. The day will conclude with the Innovation Award Ceremony and gala networking dinner, celebrating pioneering efforts that are redefining the future of air cargo.