No.PR-83
November 5, 2019
New Delhi
Technological innovation & evolution of infrastructure plays a crucial role to boost the Indian Air Cargo Industry: Mr. Kharola IAS, Hon’ble Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation at PHDCCI
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized 5th PHD Air Cargo Summit – 2019 at PHD house today. While inaugurating the Summit, Mr Pradeep Singh Kharola, IAS, Hon’ble Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, said that the Indian air cargo industry is undergoing a paradigm shift with fast paced evolution of infrastructure and technological innovations. Taking these as opportunities to the sector, Mr Pradeep Singh Kharola added that improved infrastructure and processes will boost the industry and make it world class.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Dr D.K. Aggarwal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the air cargo industry is poised to play a crucial role in the Indian economic development. More than one-third of the value of the goods traded globally is transported by air. Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) will help the Indian air cargo industry stay competitive and productive, he added.
The air cargo sector is on a new growth trajectory with an immense amplifying demand for air freight in the country, said Dr D.K. Aggarwal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce. This growth is further buoyed by the current anchor initiatives of the government, like Ease of Doing Business, Digitization; GST, Industrial Promotion Zones, Enhanced connectivity, National Air Cargo Policy Outline, Multi-modal transport policy, National Integrated Logistics Policy and many more, he added.
Speaking at the summit, Mr. Arun Bhagat, Chair, Civil Aviation Committee, PHD Chamber, said that the Indian air cargo business is growing at 10% CAGR and in the next 20 years, air cargo traffic is expected to more than double, even as the world freighter fleet grows by more than 75 per cent. Therefore, there is urgent need to eliminate inefficient processes to make the Indian industry competitive. He said that there is need for skill development and higher investment in infrastructure so that the domestic air cargo industry can compete globally.
The summit was attended by Mr. Amber Dubey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Mr. L Satya Srinivasa, Joint Secretary, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Ms Vandana Aggarwal, IES, Economic advisor, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Mr. Anuj Aggarwal, Chair(Additional Charge), Airports Authority of India (AAI) among others.
5th PHD Air Cargo Summit was themed as “Air Cargo Industry Transformation Future Outlook”, provided platform to all stakeholders of the air cargo & logistics industry to come together and explore the viability of the policy changes & exchange sustainable suggestions for the Air Cargo Industry’s exponential transformation & growth. A knowledge paper titled – Air Cargo Industry Transformation – future outlook by Auctus Advisors was also released during the Summit.
Ends.
Media Division
PHDCCI