Hyderabad–Brussels airports target stronger pharma cargo links

Brussels Airport has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad International Airport to strengthen cooperation in air cargo development and explore opportunities to improve connectivity between Belgium and India. 

The partnership will focus on knowledge sharing, cargo development and closer collaboration between the two airports’ pharmaceutical and life sciences communities. Brussels Airport will leverage its expertise in pharmaceutical logistics, while Hyderabad’s growing life sciences ecosystem is expected to provide opportunities for joint development.

The a aims to create a stronger cargo bridge between Europe and India, particularly for pharmaceutical and life sciences shipments. The airports will also work together to identify opportunities to strengthen air connectivity and develop cargo links between Brussels and Hyderabad.

Arnaud Feist, CEO Brussels Airport, said, “With this MoU, we are taking an important step to bring the ecosystems of Brussels Airport and Hyderabad International Airport closer together. By strengthening cargo flows between our regions, we can support trade and economic growth. As Europe's preferred pharma and life sciences hub, Brussels Airport has built a strong ecosystem and extensive expertise in pharmaceutical logistics. Combined with Hyderabad's leading life sciences ecosystem, this creates valuable opportunities for future cooperation and knowledge exchange."

Kadhir Kadhiravan, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport, said, “Hyderabad’s growing economic base and strategic location position it strongly to serve as a gateway for India’s international trade. Our collaboration with Brussels Airport strengthens our ability to connect Hyderabad with the wider European cargo ecosystem and supports our ambition to build a more globally integrated cargo network. By bringing together market expertise, industry partnerships and complementary strengths, we can create new opportunities for businesses in Hyderabad and across the region while strengthening the airport’s role in India’s international trade corridors.”

Brussels Airport has built significant expertise in pharmaceutical logistics, supporting Belgium’s position as the world’s fourth-largest exporter of pharmaceutical products. The airport became the first globally to achieve CEIV Pharma certification in 2014, an internationally recognised standard for pharmaceutical handling and transport. It now offers 45,000 square metres of temperature-controlled storage capacity, giving it the largest concentration of dedicated airport pharma storage facilities in Europe.

India, meanwhile, remains a major force in the global pharmaceutical sector and is the world’s largest supplier of generic medicines, accounting for around 20% of global supply by volume. Hyderabad is at the centre of this ecosystem, with a strong life sciences cluster spanning pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccines and research and development.

The MoU was signed with support from Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), the Flemish government agency promoting international trade and investment, highlighting the strengthening economic ties between Belgium and India. Brussels Airport and Hyderabad International Airport will now work on concrete initiatives to grow cargo traffic and strengthen the pharmaceutical and life sciences value chain between the two regions.

Currently, there is no direct air connection between the two cities. The collaboration will therefore explore ways to improve connectivity and support greater cargo flows between Belgium and India.

The signing took place in the presence of Kadhir Kadhiravan, CEO, and Vivekananda Nayak, CFO, of GMR Hyderabad International Airport; and Dimitri Bettoni, Head of Cargo, and Jeroen Desaer, Senior Cargo Business and Network Development Manager, of Brussels Airport Company.

This aricle was originally published on the STAT Trade Times.