ACFI launches Kerala Chapter under leadership of Manoj P Joseph

Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) launched its Kerala Chapter under the chairmanship of Manoj P Joseph, cargo in charge, Cochin International Airport (CIAL) on  September 4, 2023 in Cochin.

S Suhas, IAS, Managing Director, CIAL was the chief guest of the event. The event was attended by Yashpal Sharma, President, ACFI and Managing Director, Skyways Group, Sanjiv Edward, Vice President, ACFI and CEO – Cargo & Logistics, GMR Group, Satish Lakkaraju, Chairman, ACFI Event Management Task Pillar and Global Head – Air Freight & Pharma, WIZ Freight, Kamesh Peri, Governing Board Member, ACFI and CEO at Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management along with K.S. Kunwar, Director General , ACFI and Santosh Kumar T.T., Vice Chairman, ACFI Kerala Chapter and Assistant Manager, GH & Cargo Operations, Kannur International Airport.

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 and CCBA.

The 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 the people by conducting trainings, events and workshops and invite collaboration with fellow trade bodies to steer the air cargo logistics sector in Kerala and at national level. The main aim of Kerala Chapter will be 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 four  major airports covered under Kerala chapter are: Cochin International Airport (CIAL), Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), Calicut International Airport (CCJ) and Kannur International Airport (KIAL).

Joseph says, “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  members of ACFI. My vision is to establish strong connections between ACFI Kerala Chapter and the prominent players in the air cargo and supply shain 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.’’

Sharma adds: “ACFI 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 million tonnes 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."