WEEKLY NEWS


ALIGNING INDIA'S LOGISTICS GROWTH WITH MULTIMODAL STRATEGY


AIR CARG O WEEK


BY Ajinkya GURAV


INDIA’S ambition to become a global trade and logistics leader depends on fully integrating air cargo into its multimodal infrastructure strategy. As demand grows for high-value, time- sensitive


exports such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and


perishables, airfreight must move from the margins to the core of national logistics planning. With air cargo volumes projected to exceed 10 million tonnes annually by 2030, infrastructure investment can no longer prioritise just roads and ports. The emphasis must now include digitalised airfreight corridors, seamless customs processes,


and 02 last-mile connectivity


manufacturing zones and trade hubs. Sagar Kadu, director at the Department for Promotion of


Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), stressed that air cargo is now part of PM Gati Shakti’s national master plan, with dedicated logistics clusters being reimagined to include cold chain and customs-ready facilities. The upcoming National Logistics Policy


(NLP) 2.0 will support air cargo parks and digitised clearance mechanisms, aiming to reduce turnaround times and enhance export throughput. A major area of reform is integrating ports and airports through


bonded logistics corridors and digital tracking systems. Captain Deepak


Tiwari, MD of MSC,


between Jawaharlal Nehru Port and upcoming airports like NMIA and Jewar. These, he said, would enable smoother movement for high-priority sectors like gems, electronics and textiles. Captain BVJK Sharma, CEO of Navi Mumbai International Airport


to


(NMIA), detailed how the new airport is embedding air cargo into its design from day one. “Cargo is core infrastructure,” he said, pointing to integrated rail–road–air connections and AI-enabled storage for perishables and temperature-sensitive goods. India’s


global competitiveness also hinges on meeting


international logistics standards. Dr Ennarasu Karunesan of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) called for adopting IATA’s e-freight systems and the World Customs


proposed cross-modal corridors


Organization’s (WCO) digital protocols. He warned that without standardisation and interoperability, India risks remaining on the periphery of global cargo flows. Institutional coherence is equally


critical. Aniruddha Lele,


CEO of NSFT, called for synchronised planning between airport authorities, state governments and customs agencies. Highlighting successful models in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, he urged nationwide adoption of digital platforms and single-window clearances to cut delays and reduce project risks. A key recommendation emerging from recent policy discussions


is the creation of a National Air Cargo Infrastructure Master Plan, which would identify priority terminals, link them with SEZs and FTWZs, and facilitate private investment through tax incentives and viability gap funding. Participants also stressed that air cargo needs to be factored into India’s trade and investment agreements to


ensure mutual recognition


regulatory alignment. Ultimately, India’s transformation into a logistics powerhouse


Did You Know ? THE SHELLFISH KING BY Michael SALES


TUBBY Isaacs, the legendary “shellfish king” of London’s east end for over 50 years, was well known. Pie and mash stalls were busy after pub closing, especially on Saturday nights. The familiar cry was heard — “Welks, winkle, cockle, mussel, jellied eel, prawn, crab, all lovely.” Back in the 1960s, the River Thames was


clean enough to have native eels, a popular and high-protein food for working people. Pie and mash stalls were popular, with an array of fresh shellfish and jellied eels. In today’s global market, all kinds of


fish, shellfish and plants serve increasingly sophisticated tastes, and huge salmon farming operations from the icy waters of Norway to the troubled coast of Tasmania produce vast


quantities of exports transported by air to markets in China, Japan, the USA and Europe. There is one species which is now under from inappropriate factory


threat farming


— the octopus. The quest to find new and profitable ways of producing food becomes ever more urgent. Fish farming is now a well- established and well-managed global industry, especially for salmon and, to a lesser extent, cod. Now, a Spanish company is attempting


to farm octopuses for their meat, which is prized by different cultures and cuisines in many countries. However, critics and environmentalists argue that mass production of these highly sensitive, intelligent and aggressively territorial creatures is both cruel and inhumane. Whether octopus farming is profitable depends in large part on how much it costs to


maintain a steady supply of crustaceans, their staple diet. In addition, they are potentially cannibals, which would


create


problems. There is also growing opposition to octopus farming on ethical and environmental grounds. Being


naturally


confinement would


cause solitary distress, resulting further creatures,


in unnatural, crowded tanks real


aggression and cannibalism. The USA has now banned not only octopus


farming, but also the importation of farmed octopus


or parts. Democrat Sheldon


Whitehouse (Rhode Island) and Republican Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) have reintroduced the Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of


Octopus Produced through in


will depend not just on building more infrastructure — but on building the right kind, with air cargo at the heart of an agile, globally competitive ecosystem. Without this strategic focus, the country risks constructing disconnected assets that fall short of delivering long-term economic value.


T: +44 (0)1737 906107


Advertising: sales@azurainternational.com Subscriptions: subs@azurainternational.com Press releases: news@azurainternational.com


The ACW Team Editor:


Supplement Editor: News Reporter:


Regional Representative (APAC):


Edward Hardy James Graham


Anastasiya Simsek Ajinkya Gurav


Regional Representative (North America): Oscar Sardinas Associate Editor:


Director of Operations: International Media Sales Director:


Chris Lewis Kim Smith


Rosa Bellanca


Senior Publishing And Events Manager: Chris Richman International Sales Executive: Finance Manager:


Design & Production Manager: Production Supervisor: Website Consultant: Managing Director:


Zainab Khalid Rachel Burns Alex Brown Kevin Dennis


Tim Brocklehurst Steven Polmans


Annual subscription rates: Print issue: £150 • € 180 • US$195 (20% will be donated to our NGO sustainability projects) Digital issue: Free-of-charge


Unethical


Strategies (OCTOPUS) Act. This action is shaping negative attitudes in other countries, which may deter the expansion of this trade.


The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Whilst every care is taken, the publishers cannot be held legally responsible for any errors in articles or advertisements. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by electronic, mechanical, photographic or other means without the prior consent of the publishers. USA: The publishers shall not be liable for losses, claims, damages or expenses arising out


of or attributed to the contents of Air Cargo Week, insofar as they are based on information, presentations, reports or data that have been publicly disseminated, furnished or otherwise communicated to Air Cargo Week. © AZura international 2024 • ISSN 2040-1671 - Printed by Warners Midlands plc. The Mailing, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH


of standards and


ACW 7 JULY 2025


www.aircargoweek.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14