By Aritra Banerjee
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) hosted its 9th PHD Global Aviation & Air Cargo Summit, themed ‘Scaling New Horizons – Trends for Future Sustainable Growth.’ This gathering, attended by influential figures from India’s aviation and cargo sectors, took place at the PHD House, with attendees deliberating on challenges and opportunities facing these critical industries.
Among the key speakers, Rajiv Bansal, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, outlined a triad of strategies to transform India’s cargo sector. He underscored the positive ramifications of commissioning two dedicated railway trade corridors, augmenting trucking speeds, and slashing port turnaround times. According to Bansal, these strides have the potential to trim India’s logistics costs from 14% down to the global benchmark of 8%.
Bansal also urged for more proactive industry involvement and robust dialogue, contending that such collaborative approaches would yield future growth and stakeholder synergy. In a call-to-action, he encouraged the PHDCCI to harness international expertise in formulating an executable roadmap for the expansion of the air cargo sector.
Sumita Dawra, the Special Secretary (Logistics) at the Ministry of Commerce, illuminated the transformational potential of the PM Gatishakti Mission National Master Plan on national infrastructure planning. She praised the efficacy of geospatial technology in addressing the ‘first-mile’ and ‘last-mile’ logistics problems, particularly as demonstrated by the PM Gati Shakti Portal.
Saket Dalmia, the President of the PHDCCI, in his address, echoed Bansal’s sentiment. He emphasised the timely need for strategic foresight as India gears up to become a pivotal player in the global aviation and air cargo arena.
Vipin Vohra, the Chair of the PHDCCI Civil Aviation Committee, called attention to the air freight sector as a vital cog in the wheel of the global trade system. He brought several pressing concerns to the fore, including the high costs associated with logistics transactions, the imperative to rationalise supplementary charges levied by terminal operators, and the creation of a comprehensive Warehousing and Logistics Policy.
The summit wrapped up with a ceremony acknowledging the contributions of industry leaders from the aviation and cargo sectors. The overarching takeaway from the event was the central role of cooperation and strategic planning in steering the future course of India’s aviation and cargo industries.
