Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) launched their Kerala Chapter under the chairmanship of Mr. Manoj P Joseph (Cargo In Charge, Cochin International Airport) on 4th September 2023 in Cochin. Mr. S. Suhas IAS, (Managing Director of Cochin International Airport) was the Chief Guest at the event. The event 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).
Over 100 plus delegates from across the air cargo & aviation industry, some ACFI Governing Board members, and senior leaders from various trade associations including the Steamer Association, Indian Chamber of Commerce, FICCI, ACAAI, AMTOI, FFFAI and CCBA etc. were a part of the gala establishment event.
The Kerala Chapter is going to be led by 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 to 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 the people by conducting training, events, and 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 will be to align itself with the ACFI Head Office and drive common goals of promoting the Air Cargo industry to bring it to par with the best global Air Cargo ecosystems.
The Kerala Chapter covers 4 major airports including 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.
“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.”
Mr. Manoj P Joseph, Chairman, ACFI Kerala Chapter
“ACFI, as an organization, is dedicated to the development of a world-class Air Cargo ecosystem in
Mr. Yashpal Sharma – ACFI President
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 recognized
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.”
ACFI is a common platform for each stakeholder in the air cargo sector who can work collectively in a positive direction to address major industry challenges. This prestigious body consists of
stakeholders from across the industry including Airlines, Airport Operators, Cargo Terminal
Operators, Courier and Express Operators, Custom 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.
