Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) launched its Kerala Chapter under the Chairmanship of Mr Manoj P. Joseph, Cargo In-Charge, Cochin International Airport (CIAL), on September 4, 2023 at Flora Hotel, Cochin. Mr S. Suhas, IAS, Managing Director of Cochin International Airport, was the Chief Guest of the event, which was also graced by Mr Yashpal Sharma, ACFI President and Managing Director, Skyways Group; Mr Sanjiv Edward, ACFI Vice President and CEO – Cargo & Logistics, GMR Group; Mr Satish Lakkaraju, Chairman, ACFI Event Management Task Pillar and Global Head – Air Freight & Pharma, WIZ Freight; Mr Kamesh Peri, ACFI Governing Board Member and CEO at Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management Pvt. Ltd; along with Mr K. S. Kunwar, Director General – ACFI; and Mr Santosh Kumar T. T., Vice Chairman – ACFI Kerala Chapter and Assistant Manager, GH & Cargo Operations, Kannur International Airport.
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The occasion saw participation from over 100 plus delegates from across the air cargo & aviation industry, some ACFI Governing Board Members and senior leaders from various trade associations including Steamer Association, Indian Chamber of Commerce, FICCI, ACAAI, AMTOI, FFFAI, CCBA, etc.
The Kerala Chapter is all set to achieve success under the leadership of Mr Manoj P. Joseph who has vast experience of over 2 decades in the airport & aviation sector. The ACFI Governing Board Members are confident that he will be a great asset to the association as he will bring on board his expertise in cargo handling and operations coupled with his customer-centric approach of working.
Kerala Chapter Board Members will be selected by the ACFI Governing Board and ACFI Secretariat in due course of time with the aim to boost air cargo trade in the region, advocate regulatory changes with authorities, upskill people by conducting training, events, workshops etc. and invite collaboration with fellow trade bodies to steer the air cargo logistics sector in Kerala and at the national level. The main aim of the Kerala Chapter is to align itself with the ACFI Head Office and drive common goals of promoting the air cargo industry to bring it at par with the best global air cargo ecosystems.
The 4 major airports covered under Kerala chapter are: Cochin International Airport (CIAL), Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), Calicut International Airport (CCJ) and Kannur International Airport (KIAL). The air cargo volume of these airports (both domestic and international combined) in 2022-23 was 91,930 MMT, highlighted a release.
The newly elected Chairman Mr Manoj P Joseph commented, ”As the Chairman of Kerala Chapter, I am committed to maintaining close collaboration with every Task Force Pillar under the ACFI umbrella. This will ensure the effective execution of our initiatives in the region, with the full support of our ACFI President and the esteemed members of ACFI. My vision is to establish strong connections between ACFI Kerala Chapter and the prominent players in the air cargo and supply chain sector in Kerala. The realm of air freight logistics is undergoing a transformative phase, driven by advancements in technology, evolving regulations, shifting processes and ever-changing business environments. This transformation marks the critical role of air cargo, and I am dedicated to navigating and embracing these changes for the benefit of our industry’’.
“ACFI as an organisation is dedicated to the development of a world class air cargo ecosystem in India, one that adheres to the highest international standards. I firmly hold the belief that India’s air cargo infrastructure should serve as a model admired for its scale, efficiency and swift delivery, even by the most advanced economies globally. I truly believe that our Kerala Chapter will play a pivotal role in our pursuit to establish an Indian air cargo framework that will soon be recognised and benchmarked as a global standard. Furthermore, Kerala Chapter will also ably align itself with the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s ambitious target of achieving 10 MMT by 2030-31. However, accomplishing this goal requires intensifying our focus on process enhancements, collaborating closely with various entities such as Participating Government Agencies at airports, regulators, shippers, freighters, airlines, etc.,” said Mr Yashpal Sharma, ACFI President.
About ACFI
Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI), established in September 2012, is a common platform for each stakeholder in the air cargo sector who can work collectively in a positive direction for addressing major industry challenges. The body consists of stakeholders from across the industry including Airlines, Airport Operators, Cargo Terminal Operators, Courier and Express Operators, Customs Brokers, Freight Forwarders, Bonded Truck Operators, General Sales Agents, Integrators, Domestic Cargo Operators, etc. All stakeholders work in complete alignment with various government agencies and Ministries.