CIAL International Cargo Business Summit to be held on January 31 and February 1

KOCHI:
Cochin International Airport Limited, in collaboration with FICCI, is organizing an International Cargo Business Summit on January 31 and February 1 at the CIAL Convention Center. The event aims to transform CIAL into a global air cargo hub and will include business meetings, exhibitions, and several panel discussions. The summit begins on the 31st at 9:30 AM with a theme presentation, followed by sessions throughout the day covering topics such as global trade agreements, the role of air cargo in India’s trade, multi-modal transport, regulatory compliance for faster delivery, and the evolving role of e-commerce and courier agencies.

On February 1 at 11:30 AM, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the plenary session, joined by CIAL Managing Director S. Suhas and Industries Minister P. Rajeeve. The event will also feature an awards ceremony to honor leading companies in the cargo sector. Additionally, there will be 54 exhibition stalls featuring airlines, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics institutions. Those wishing to attend the panel discussions must register in advance by calling 9746903555.

CIAL General Manager and Head of Cargo Satish Kumar Pai stated in a press conference that the airport aims to become a multimodal connectivity point for cargo movement and is focusing its operations on the e-commerce business. He pointed out that CIAL is one of only nine airports in India listed for specialized e-commerce handling. CIAL Corporate Communications Head P. S. Jayan added that the primary goal is to transform the airport into a major cargo hub. Satish Kumar also mentioned that efforts are underway to obtain a pharma license for pharmaceutical exports and that a project has been developed in collaboration with India Post to assist rural farmers in exporting their produce. Furthermore, there are plans to launch an incubation center to promote exports. Savio Mathew, Head of FICCI Kerala, also attended the press conference and announced that companies with outstanding performance in the cargo sector will be presented with Excellence Awards at the Cargo Summit venue.