CIAL hosted the two-day International Cargo Business Summit 2026, spotlighting Kochi’s expanding role in India’s trade and logistics ecosystem. The summit saw the participation of industry professionals, policymakers, and international experts.
CT Bureau
In the opening session, S Suhas, Managing Director, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) emphasised the role of air connectivity in driving economic growth. “CIAL’s 2.5 lakh sqft cargo warehousing facilities handle a significant share of Kerala’s exports, underscoring Kochi’s importance in the state’s logistics network.”
During the thematic presentations, VP Nandakumar of FICCI highlighted CIAL’s investments in digital transformation aimed at improving efficiency and transparency in cargo operations. Dhaval Raut of KPMG observed Kochi handles 60 per cent of Kerala’s air cargo, with perishables forming a lion’s share, pointing to the need for 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, ex-Acting Chairman, JNPT, underlined the potential in agri exports and stressed the need for modern cargo infra to address existing gaps. Experts reiterated Kochi’s strength 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, MD, Galaxy Freight, said CIAL was a vital link between maritime trade and air cargo ops. Burak Ozber, Regional Cargo Manager, Turkish Airlines, and Roopesh Nair, Regional Director, Saudi Cargo, noted growth in freight movement through Kochi and emphasised the importance of technology adoption and process optimisation to meet rising demand.
