Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on Thursday highlighted Kochi’s growing importance in India’s trade and logistics ecosystem, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and global experts to deliberate on the future of air cargo and multimodal logistics.
Addressing the inaugural session, CIAL Managing Director S. Suhas underscored the pivotal role of air connectivity in driving economic growth. He said CIAL’s 2.5 lakh sq. ft. cargo warehousing facilities handle a significant share of Kerala’s exports, reinforcing Kochi’s position in the State’s logistics network.
Representing FICCI, V. P. Nandakumar highlighted CIAL’s investments in digital transformation aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency and ease of doing business in cargo operations.
Dhaval Raut of KPMG noted that Kochi accounts for nearly 60 per cent of Kerala’s air cargo movement, with perishables forming a major share, underscoring the need for robust cold-chain and time-sensitive logistics infrastructure.
The technical sessions featured panel discussions on global trade dynamics, tariff regimes, the role of air cargo in India’s export growth and the importance of multimodal logistics. Jose Paul, former acting chairman of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, pointed to the vast potential in agricultural exports and stressed the need for modern cargo infrastructure to bridge existing gaps.
Experts reiterated Kochi’s strengths as a multimodal hub integrating air, sea and rail connectivity, enabling cost-effective and scalable logistics solutions. Highlighting the ‘Sea-to-Sky’ logistics concept, M. Afzal Malbarwala, Managing Director of Galaxy Freight Pvt. Ltd., described CIAL as a critical link between maritime trade and air cargo operations.
Burak Ozber, Regional Cargo Manager, Turkish Airlines, and Roopesh Nair, Regional Director, Saudi Cargo, noted steady growth in freight movement through Kochi and emphasised the importance of technology adoption and process optimisation to meet rising demand.
Speakers, including James J. Nedumpara of the Centre for Trade and Investment Law and Bui Trung Thuong, Trade Counsellor at the Embassy of Vietnam, observed that emerging India–EU and India–ASEAN trade engagements offer significant opportunities for Kochi to further strengthen its role as a regional logistics gateway.