I Ahead of upcoming FIATA RAP Meet in New Delhi in May, Đào Trọng Khoa, President, Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA) shared, “The ‘Make in India’ initiative has helped India promote domestic production and attract foreign investment. VLA highly values the trade and investment potential with India, especially given the long-standing traditional friendship between the two nations. Vietnam and India established diplomatic relations in 1972 and elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership nine years ago. India is now one of Vietnam’s top 8 trading partners and its largest trading partner in South Asia, accounting for nearly 80% of Vietnam’s exports to the region. Meanwhile, Vietnam ranks as India’s 17th largest global trading partner and 4th largest within ASEAN. India’s geographical location makes it a gateway for Vietnamese goods to access South Asian markets, and conversely, Vietnam is seen as a gateway for Indian goods into ASEAN and Vietnam’s trade partner countries. The complementary nature of the two countries’ trade structures is also a major factor behind the rapid and positive development of Vietnam–India economic relations. The two countries hold great potential for cooperation in IT, pharmaceuticals, machinery, renewable energy, and logistics services. India’s market remains wide open for Vietnamese exports, particularly agricultural products, seafood, and consumer goods. These are the very reasons why VLA was approved by Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade to organize a National Trade Promotion Program in India in May 2025—one of its key missions being to participate in the FIATA Region Asia Pacific (RAP) Annual Meeting 2025.”

MatchLog has partnered with Pacific International Lines (PIL) to enhance container equipment optimisation across India. This effort aims to boost operational efficiency and promote sustainability within regional supply chains. The partnership addresses critical inefficiencies in container logistics, such as improving asset utilisation, reducing repositioning costs, and streamlining two-way laden movements. With its strong presence in South and Southeast Asia, PIL will utilize MatchLog’s digital platform to improve container turnaround times and minimize the repositioning of empty containers. MatchLog’s proprietary technology ensures seamless coordination between import and export movements. These innovations optimize container flows, reduce idle time, ensure quicker reuse and triangulation, and substantially cut carbon emissions across the supply chain. To date, the company has facilitated the movement of over 2,00,000 containers via its platform, and achieved a reduction of approximately 36,000 tonnes in carbon emissions. By incorporating MatchLog’splatform, PIL aims to enhance asset efficiency and bolster its commitment to sustainable logistics. This initiative aligns with PIL’s broader strategy to leverage technology for improved service reliability and reduced environmental footprint. “With Pacific International Lines, we are not just optimizing logistics; we are tackling the pressing challenge of resource inefficiency in the supply chain,” stated Dhruv Taneja, Founder and Global CEO of MatchLog. “Our joint efforts are focused on enhancing asset utilization, driving reuse and triangulation, and reducing environmental impact, which will lead to more sustainable logistics practices and improved cost efficiencies across India.” This partnership advances digital innovation in logistics and promotes smarter, more sustainable container management. By using advanced technologies, MatchLog and PIL are improving efficiency and sustainability in supply chain operations across India.

Emirates SkyCargo, in collaboration with freight forwarder and haulier Allied Transport Company, is all set to add five hydrogen-powered trucks to its fleet by the first quarter of 2026 as it seeks to improve the environmental performance of its ground operations. The carrier’s existing fleet of over 60 trucks link Dubai World Central and Dubai International Airport as well as serving the wider domestic region. The new hydrogen-powered trucks will have a capacity of 28 tonnes – the same as SkyCargo’s current diesel-powered vehicles – and will emit substantially less CO2. They have a range of up to 700 km on a full tank and will refuel at two stations in Dubai. In addition, the new vehicles are tractor units that are compatible with a variety of trailers, enabling them to accommodate various types of cargo.

Kale Logistics Solutions is all set to implement GALAXY air cargo community system at México City Airport for cargo handling. GALAXY, which is currently in use at more than 120 airports across the world, will streamline export, import and transit operations by digitalising all shipment data. It will offer real-time transparency for all stakeholders and eliminate the risk of incorrect shipment data appearing on paper copies, Kale said. The cloud-based system means that even México Cargo Handling warehouse operators will use handheld devices to make the entire cargo handling process paperless. “At México Cargo Handling we are looking at digital innovation to provide better value to our customers,” said Mathilde de Rocquigny, chief executive at the handler. “We are happy to partner with Kale on creating the right digital infrastructure at our facilities to become more efficient, sustainable, and provide better visibility to our customers.” Amar More, president of Kale, added: “Enhancing customer experience, building operational excellence, and free-up talent from routine support tasks to focus on higher-value activities around transformation and innovation is the fundamental requirement of every airport cargo ground handler worldwide.”

Afzal Malbarwala, Managing Director, Galaxy Freight said, “While Tier 1 and metro areas have historically seen the majority of air traffic, there has been a slight diversification over the past eight to nine years. The top six metro areas’ overall air traffic share in India has decreased from 69 per cent in FY 13 to 63 per cent in FY 21, with smaller airports taking up an increasing percentage of the total each year. Initiatives that have led to this are: growing number of smaller airports, initiative of the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation to expand and modernise the nation’s aviation network, particularly in Tier 2+ cities, expansion of the Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN to 1,000 routes and 100 airports, government initiative to begin operations in 100 additional airports in the upcoming five years and creating an ecosystem that will support the expansion of Indian carriers by assisting them in growing their current fleets and creating a welcoming environment for cargo operations in India.”

Arun Chandra, Vice President – Aviation Business, BIAL aid, “Programs like UDAN have catalysed regional air connectivity, while state governments and private players are investing in regional infrastructure to support export potential directly from these production centres. BLR Airport is actively supporting this shift. As the primary gateway for South India, our  cargo terminals has been designed to create stronger linkages with regional markets across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. Our collaboration with express logistics players and integration with road feeder services enables time-bound cargo movement from smaller cities to global destinations via Bengaluru.”  

Balagopal Balachandran, National Head – Air freight, FEI Cargo said, “India has over 73 regional airports now handling some level of cargo operations, up from just a dozen five years ago. Krishi Udan 2.0 is operational at around 58 airports under this scheme has been launched to facilitate the air transportation of agricultural and perishable products from smaller cities, northeastern states, enhancing farmers’ access to larger markets and has helped to boost agri-export cargo movement by over 30 per cent year-on-year. UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), while primarily focused on passenger connectivity, UDAN has connected (as of early 2024) 450+ routes, with more than 73 airports are now equipped with basic cargo infrastructure, promoting regional logistics. These efforts are crucial for decongesting major hubs and promoting balanced economic growth across the country. Airports like Indore has shown growth exceeding 20% CAGR over the last 3 years, Surat has emerged as a Diamond export Hub etc. Additionally, the government aims to develop 33 new cargo terminals by 2025 under the PM Gati Shakti plan, focusing on regional airfreight corridors linked to industrial clusters and agri zones. With the convergence of infrastructure upgrades, digital transformation, and growing global trade ties, India is well-positioned to become a dominant air freight gateway not just for Asia, but for the WORLD”          

Amit Tandon, CEO & Managing Director, Asia Shipping India said, “India has recognised the importance of expanding its domestic air cargo ecosystem beyond just the metro cities, and that is where Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are starting to play a much bigger role. One of the most impactful initiatives has been the UDAN scheme, which focuses on improving regional air connectivity. Under this, many smaller airports have been upgraded to handle not just passenger traffic but also cargo—especially for sectors like agriculture, pharma, and e-commerce that need faster, more efficient logistics. More airports are being developed under this scheme as greenfield projects. A strong momentum is also seen through the Gati Shakti initiative and the National Logistics Policy, both of which prioritise developing multimodal logistics infrastructure in non-metro regions. These efforts are aimed at linking regional production hubs, like textile clusters, industrial parks and agri zones, to national and international markets via air. The increasing connectivity of the moffusil airports to the gateway airports also improves the efficiency of the export activity for the perishable products. What is promising is the growing investment in infrastructure like modern and well-equipped warehouses, temperature-controlled storage, digital cargo tracking, and bonded warehousing, at regional airports.  Private players are also stepping in, which is helping to accelerate the process. Furthermore, cities like Indore, Lucknow, Coimbatore, and Guwahati and other export centres are already emerging as cargo nodes, and this trend is only going to strengthen with the passage of time. It’s a big step forward for inclusive trade growth and building a truly nationwide logistics network.

Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) has inaugurated its first Vertical Storage Warehouse in Bhiwandi, Thane district, Maharashtra. Spread across 2.84 lakh sq. ft., the warehouse features over 3,200 pallet positions and a high-density G+6 vertical racking system, significantly maximizing storage efficiency while minimizing physical footprint. Serving as the mother hub for key regional markets—Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh—the facility is designed to enable agile, responsive logistics tailored to evolving business needs. Saurabh Jhawar, Head – Product Supply Organisation, India & SAARC, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), said, “The launch of our first vertical storage warehouse is a transformative step in our journey toward building a smart, agile, and future-ready supply chain. In just 18 months under Project Parivartan, we have upgraded a majority of our key logistics hubs to Grade A facilities. This new warehouse in Maharashtra stands as a beacon of our commitment to operational excellence, digital integration, and sustainable growth—allowing us to serve our consumers with enhanced speed, safety, and care.” In March 2025, GCPL launched its first integrated greenfield plant in Tamil Nadu—representing a transformational shift in manufacturing. This advanced facility, the company’s first fully integrated plant under one roof, will manufacture products from some of GCPL’s most popular brands, including Cinthol, Godrej No.1, Goodknight, Godrej aer, and Godrej Expert Hair Colour. With the addition of the Vertical Storage Warehouse, GCPL is further strengthening its national distribution network. This marks a strategic shift toward real-time, data-led decision-making and automated scheduling systems that will enhance supply chain agility and responsiveness. This development underscores GCPL’s unwavering belief in creating shared value and building resilient, innovation-driven infrastructure that aligns with its broader ambition—to lead with purpose and redefine excellence …

Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association (BCBA) and Vadhvan Port Project Limited (VPPL) jointly launched the first one month course under the Vadhvan Port Skilling Program on Custom Documentation. Unmesh Sharad Wagh, IRS, Chairman, JNPA and CMD, VPPL inaugurated the futuristic initiative in the presence of Rajeev Sinha, Advisor, JNPA and VPPL,  Sanjeev Harale, President, BCBA, Paresh Thakkar, Senior Vice President, BCBA, Dushyant Mulani, Chairman, FFFAI and Past President BCBA, and other senior officials from BCBA. The course, designed in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers Association (BCBA), is set to equip participants with comprehensive knowledge of customs processes, documentation, and procedures vital for the functioning of ports. Unmesh Sharad Wagh, Chairman, JNPA, and CMD, VPPL, shared, “The launch of this course is a key step in enhancing the employability of our local youth, providing them with skills that are vital for the growth of Vadhvan Port and the broader maritime industry. We believe in moving beyond conversations to meaningful action that equips young people for tomorrow’s opportunities. This is just the beginning, and we are committed to expanding this program and many other programs across various sectors to further empower the community.” The Custom Documentation course is designed to equip candidates from Palghar and nearby areas of Vadhvan Port with foundational knowledge and practical skills required in the field of customs clearance and logistics. Spanning 4 weeks with 100 hours of training, the course is conducted in a classroom setting at the BCBA office in Nariman Point, Mumbai, and includes hands-on practical inputs. The curriculum covers key areas such as import-export procedures, customs documentation, clearance processes, and compliance requirements, offering participants a real-world understanding of port and logistics operations. The Vadhvan …