India’s ambition to emerge as a globally integrated logistics and airfreight powerhouse took a decisive step forward on 20 June 2025, with the Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) unveiling its strategic blueprint during a curtain-raiser event for the forthcoming ACFI Annual Conclave 2025. Held under the theme “Air Cargo Leadership in a Changing World – India at the Forefront of Global Transformation,” the event placed policy foresight, technological modernisation, and sustainable logistics infrastructure at the centre of India’s emerging aviation discourse.

Scheduled for 11 July at the Taj Palace in New Delhi, the ACFI Conclave is expected to catalyse actionable frameworks for industry–government collaboration, particularly as the country positions itself as a major node in the reconfigured global supply chain architecture. With airfreight volumes in India projected to exceed 10 million tonnes annually by 2030, the strategic recalibration of infrastructure, policy, and digital ecosystems is becoming imperative.

Institutional vision

In his opening remarks, ACFI president and GMR Cargo & Logistics CEO, Sanjiv Edward, highlighted the imperative of reimagining India’s airfreight narrative. “We are not just participants in the global supply chain anymore; India is poised to become a centre of gravity for air cargo transformation. That demands new thinking — digitally, sustainably, and securely.”

Edward’s statement signals a clear shift from reactive operations to anticipatory logistics planning, aligned with India’s trade ambitions under the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti initiative. Key to this vision is integrating India’s fragmented cargo processing ecosystem into globally harmonised digital and environmental compliance regimes.

Technology as a catalyst

A central highlight of the event was the inauguration of the ACFI Tech Arena, designed to spotlight innovations across artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), warehouse automation, and green logistics. The initiative positions technology not merely as an operational tool but as foundational infrastructure in the pursuit of globally competitive airfreight standards.

Given that India ranks 38th on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (2023), the alignment of domestic systems with international benchmarks such as IATA’s ONE Record and electronic Air Waybill (e-AWB) standards could substantially improve shipment traceability, customs clearance timelines, and cargo reliability.

Policy Forums: Framing the Sector’s Strategic Trajectory

The 2025 Conclave will feature four themed sessions, each targeting a specific policy or operational pillar essential for the sector’s transition:

1. From turbulence to triumph

Substituting for Air India’s Ramesh Mamidala, Satish Lakkaraju framed this session around India’s expanding airfreight footprint amidst geopolitical realignments. He called for proactive policy adaptation, including the development of air corridors aligned with new trade routes such as the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and India–Central Asia aviation networks.

This session reinforces the argument for corridor-based regulatory and infrastructure planning, rather than point-to-point expansion.

2. Tech-driven cargo

With cross-border e-commerce volumes growing at double-digit rates, Lakkaraju emphasised the need for interoperability between public platforms like ULIP (Unified Logistics Interface Platform) and private sector data systems. Proposed policy actions include incentivising predictive analytics for demand forecasting and standardising Cargo Community Systems (CCS) across major airports.

3. Green corridors & sustainable trade lanes

Moderated by Keku Bomi Gazder, MD & CEO of Aviapro Logistics, this session addressed India’s role in advancing the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda in airfreight logistics. Gazder called for policy clarity on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption, carbon offsetting frameworks, and emission-tracking infrastructure at cargo terminals.

Although India has yet to issue definitive SAF mandates for cargo carriers, this session could provide critical input into future draft regulations, particularly in alignment with ICAO’s long-term aspirational goals (LTAG).

4. Securing India’s cargo future

Also steered by Mr Keku Bomi Gazder, this session delved into regulatory fortification. With increasing volumes of dual-use cargo and a higher incidence of airside disruptions globally, compliance readiness is emerging as a competitiveness determinant.

Gazder noted, “We must embed resilience into system design — this means modular infrastructure, real-time risk analytics, and end-to-end traceability.” This session’s relevance is heightened given global scrutiny over aviation security and India’s expanding role in sensitive high-value supply chains, such as defence logistics and pharmaceuticals.

Stakeholder engagement and ecosystem signalling

The event also recognised Cathay Cargo as the title sponsor, signalling growing Asia–Pacific stakeholder interest in India’s airfreight evolution. This participation may suggest increased commercial and policy alignment between Indian airports and regional carriers seeking India-origin cargo volumes, particularly from second-tier cities with high manufacturing output.

ACFI vice chairman Dhiren Lakkaraju underscored the need for synchronised policy frameworks to unlock full ecosystem value. “If we’re serious about building cargo leadership, we need collective frameworks — not fragmented actions,” he said, reinforcing the organisation’s ambition to act as a policy–operations interface.

Broader implications

The curtain-raiser comes amid heightened expectations from global trade bodies and investors regarding India’s role in supply chain diversification. With recent discussions at the WTO and ICAO focusing on trade facilitation, climate obligations, and digital readiness, India’s policy choices in airfreight will increasingly be scrutinised against international commitments.

From freighter slot allocations and customs digitalisation to ESG-linked investment policies, the ACFI Conclave is poised to function as a policy laboratory for future directives. The strong thematic focus on compliance, green logistics, and technology integration also aligns with current dialogues under India’s Free Trade Agreement negotiations and the ongoing revision of its National Civil Aviation Policy.

In the near term, stakeholders are expected to watch for concrete outputs from the Conclave, including white papers, regulatory recommendations, and a possible roadmap for SAF integration. Industry experts also anticipate discussions around freight-rate rationalisation, cargo-linked SEZs, and multimodal logistics strategies under the Gati Shakti framework.

A pivotal year

The ACFI Annual Conclave 2025 is shaping up as a decisive moment in India’s airfreight policy calendar. With sector-wide transformation hinging on coordinated implementation of digital tools, infrastructure investments, and environmental safeguards, the Conclave’s policy conversations will hold significant implications not only for India’s domestic market but also for its role in global cargo value chains.

For air transport policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders across the Asia–Pacific and beyond, India’s evolving model may offer valuable insights into building resilient, sustainable, and innovation-ready cargo systems in a rapidly fragmenting global economy.