Dr. G. Sambasiva Rao has been elected as the Chairman of the Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI), Andhra Pradesh Chapter, which will be headquartered in Visakhapatnam. The registered office of ACFI is located at Terminal-2, Arrival, Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
Andhra Pradesh currently has four international airports—Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, and Tirupati—offering immense potential for air cargo imports and exports across diverse sectors, including pharmaceuticals, seafood, flowers, plants, industrial spares, and ship components.
At present, most pharma exports from Visakhapatnam’s SEZs such as VSEZ and APSEZ, are routed through Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai. Establishing a strong air cargo ecosystem within Andhra Pradesh will significantly benefit pharma units in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam, and boost opportunities for industries, MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, and startups.
Dr. Rao noted that there is also strong potential for imports of gold, silver, and diamonds, which would stimulate economic activity and generate employment for local youth, particularly women in the logistics sector.
To create a robust logistics ecosystem, ACFI–Andhra Pradesh will work closely with the State and Central Governments, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airports Authority of India, GMR, Customs, GST Department, air cargo carriers, and other stakeholders, to promote ease of doing business in the state.
The chapter aims to connect Andhra Pradesh airports to global destinations and facilitate exports of mangoes, fruits, and vegetables, helping farmers access international markets and increase their income.
