The 7th ACFI World Conclave in New Delhi will see industry leaders and policymakers discuss how innovation, sustainability, and trade policies are transforming India’s role in the global air cargo sector amid ongoing supply chain disruptions.
India’s air cargo industry is preparing for a major showcase in New Delhi next week as the 7th ACFI World Conclave opens on 12 and 13 August with a broad discussion on how trade, technology and policy are reshaping global supply chains. Organised by Air Cargo Forum India, the gathering is being framed as a response to a world in which companies are reassessing routes, suppliers and transport models to cope with geopolitical uncertainty and shifting manufacturing patterns.
The event will bring together about 700 delegates, including policymakers, airline executives, airport operators, freight forwarders, customs officials, logistics companies and technology providers, according to the conclave’s official website and industry reporting. Held at the Taj Palace in New Delhi, the conference is being positioned as a forum for debate on digitalisation, sustainability, multimodal connectivity and the wider future of air cargo.
ACFI, which was established in 2012, says it represents a wide slice of the air logistics ecosystem, from airlines and cargo terminal operators to customs brokers and courier businesses. The forum argues that India now has an opportunity to strengthen its standing as a global logistics hub, helped by airport expansion, rising e-commerce activity, manufacturing incentives and stronger exports in sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, perishables and engineering goods.
Industry figures cited ahead of the conclave show cargo momentum remains strong despite wider trade disruption. Indian cargo volumes rose 6.2% in financial year 2026 to 39.63 lakh tonnes, while global cargo accounted for 64% of the country’s total freight flow. That backdrop is expected to shape sessions on artificial intelligence in logistics, digital air waybills, automation, security screening and the use of drones and electric vertical take-off aircraft in future freight networks.
The programme is built around four business sessions and two fireside chats, including discussions on India’s trade map, its ambition to become an air cargo superpower and the role of small and medium-sized firms in reaching overseas markets. Ahead of the main event, ACFI held a curtain-raiser in New Delhi featuring Sanjiv Edward, Ramesh Mamidala, Satish Lakkaraju and Keku Bomi Gazder, reflecting the industry’s effort to turn the conclave into a recurring platform for policy debate and commercial collaboration.
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