The Northern India Steamer Agents Association (NISAA) successfully hosted the NISAA Business Forum 2026, bringing together prominent leaders from the maritime, logistics, infrastructure, and policy sectors to discuss the theme “Navigating North India’s Global Trade: Breaking Barriers – Building Bridges.”
The forum served as an important platform for dialogue and collaboration, focusing on strengthening connectivity, enhancing intermodal logistics, and unlocking new opportunities for North India in the global trade ecosystem.
The event commenced with the Welcome and Theme Address by Mr. Sasi Nair, President of NISAA, who emphasized the growing importance of North India in international trade and the need for stronger collaboration between ports, logistics providers, policymakers, and exporters to overcome evolving global trade challenges.
The forum featured keynote addresses by Mr. Sanjay Swarup, IRTS, Chairman & Managing Director of Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR), and Mr. Harshit Mittal, AVP – Invest Maritime, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. Both speakers highlighted the importance of integrated logistics infrastructure, policy support, and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing India’s global trade competitiveness.
Session One: Strengthening North India Intermodal Corridors & Ports
The first session focused on improving connectivity between ports, rail networks, inland terminals, and logistics hubs to strengthen North India’s supply chain efficiency.
Distinguished speakers included:
Mr. Vijoy Kumar Singh, Director (International Marketing & Operations), CONCOR
Mr. Amit Bharadwaj, Chief Commercial Officer, APM Terminals
Mr. Adhendru Jain, CEO – Rail and Inland Terminal Vertical, DP World
Dr. Rinku Gupta, Head – India Transport Logistics, CNH Industrial
Mr. Kamal Grover, Assistant Vice President – Container Movement, Bombay Trpt. Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Manish Puri, President, ACTO & Managing Director and CEO, RailRunner Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
Panelists discussed the importance of integrated multimodal logistics corridors, enhanced port connectivity, rail-linked inland container depots, and digitalization to facilitate seamless cargo movement. The discussion highlighted how public-private partnerships and infrastructure investments can accelerate North India’s integration with global trade routes.
Session Two: FTAs, IMEC & BRICS – Protecting Global Trade from Disruptions
The second session addressed global trade dynamics and emerging economic partnerships, focusing on how Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and BRICS cooperation can help mitigate disruptions in global trade.
Speakers included:
Mr. Neelkant Gummalla, Strategy Head – IMEEC Cell, RITES Ltd.
Ms. Poroma Munshi Rebello, President – Business Development, Pristine Logistics and Infraprojects Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. T. S. Ahluwalia, EC Member, Federation of Indian Export Organisation
Mr. Gyan Abhishek, Head – Intermodal Operations (South Asia), Maersk Line India Pvt. Ltd.
The session explored evolving trade corridors, geopolitical influences on supply chains, and the importance of diversified logistics strategies to safeguard international trade flows. An engaging Q&A session followed, allowing participants to interact directly with industry experts.
Cultural Segment & Felicitation
The forum also featured a light entertainment segment by Mr. Popular Meeruthi Ji, an internationally acclaimed Kavi and Shayar, whose performance added a cultural touch to the evening. The event included a felicitation ceremony honoring distinguished speakers and contributors from the industry.
Closing Remarks
The event concluded with Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks by Mr. Ravi Chauhan, Vice President of NISAA, who expressed gratitude to the speakers, partners, and participants for contributing to the success of the forum and reaffirmed NISAA’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration across the maritime and logistics sectors.
The NISAA Business Forum 2026 reaffirmed the growing importance of North India in the global trade network and underscored the role of collaborative efforts between industry and government in building resilient, efficient, and future-ready logistics ecosystems.
