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The Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers’ Association (BCBA), the apex body of the customs-broking fraternity in Mumbai, successfully hosted the second edition of its flagship policy forum, the India Logistics Conclave 2026, on June 17, 2026, at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. Building on the massive success of the inaugural 2024 edition, the high-profile, single-day gathering united over 550 industry stakeholders, senior policymakers, and logistics leaders. The landmark event was held under the powerful theme, “One Fraternity, One Vision — Logistics Driving India Towards Viksit Bharat.”
Designed as a coherent dialogue on the transformative forces reshaping India’s trade-and-logistics ecosystem, the conclave focused heavily on digital customs, the strategic "China Plus One" opportunity, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) utilisation, infrastructure delivery policies, and the evolving role of the licensed intermediary. The core discussions reflected the BCBA’s firm conviction that customs brokers and freight forwarders have transitioned from traditional back-office facilitators into front-line, equal growth partners in the nation’s economic story.
Underscoring this vision, the association’s leadership emphasised the sector's crucial contribution to national development. Mr. Sanjeev Harale, President of BCBA, highlighted that with falling logistics costs and maturing policies, the sector now sits at the heart of national growth, requiring stakeholders to actively shape industry changes. Mr. Dushyant Mulani, Immediate Past President, noted that the conclave has evolved from an idea in 2024 into a powerful movement, proving the fraternity's readiness to sit at the high table of national policy. Further reinforcing this stance, Mr. Paresh Thakkar, Senior Vice President, described the customs broker as the vital thread holding the entire EXIM chain together, declaring their commitment to leading, innovating, and helping build the Viksit Bharat of 2047.
The prestigious Inaugural Session brought together an eminent cross-section of leaders from Indian Customs and the country’s premier ports ecosystem. The distinguished dais featured key government and port authority heads, including Shri Yogendra Garg, Member (Customs), CBIC; Shri Gaurav Dayal, IAS, Chairman, JNPA; Dr M Angamuthu, IAS, Chairman, Mumbai Port Authority; and Shri Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping. Joining them were industry captains Capt. Deepak Tiwari, Managing Director, MSC India and Chairman, CSLA; Capt. BVJK Sharma, CEO, Navi Mumbai International Airport; and Shri Niraj Ambani, Group President — Supply Chain, Reliance Industries. Additionally, Shri Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman, CBIC, addressed the massive gathering online, while the session also took the opportunity to felicitate industry veterans for their distinguished, lifelong contributions to the EXIM community.
Throughout the day, panel sessions drew prominent voices from policy, shipping lines, terminals, and academia to deliberate on the long-horizon roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047. The conclave concluded with a highly impactful Valedictory Session titled “Custom Brokers and Freight Forwarders — Growth Partners.” The concluding keynote address was delivered by Mr. Dhimant Parekh, Founder of The Better India, who emphasised the critical role of brokers as front-line trade-facilitation partners within the CBIC, DGFT, and PGA frameworks.
For more such news and updates, visit CARGOCONNECT.
The Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers’ Association (BCBA), the apex body of the customs-broking fraternity in Mumbai, successfully hosted the second edition of its flagship policy forum, the India Logistics Conclave 2026, on June 17, 2026, at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. Building on the massive success of the inaugural 2024 edition, the high-profile, single-day gathering united over 550 industry stakeholders, senior policymakers, and logistics leaders. The landmark event was held under the powerful theme, “One Fraternity, One Vision — Logistics Driving India Towards Viksit Bharat.” Designed as a coherent dialogue on the transformative forces reshaping India’s trade-and-logistics ecosystem, the conclave focused heavily on digital customs, the strategic "China Plus One" opportunity, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) utilisation, infrastructure delivery policies, and the evolving role of the licensed intermediary. The core discussions reflected the BCBA’s firm conviction that customs brokers and freight forwarders have transitioned from traditional back-office facilitators into front-line, equal growth partners in the nation’s economic story. Underscoring this vision, the association’s leadership emphasised the sector's crucial contribution to national development. Mr. Sanjeev Harale, President of BCBA, highlighted that with falling logistics costs and maturing policies, the sector now sits at the heart of national growth, requiring stakeholders to actively shape industry changes. Mr. Dushyant Mulani, Immediate Past President, noted that the conclave has evolved from an idea in 2024 into a powerful movement, proving the fraternity's readiness to sit at the high table of national policy. Further reinforcing this stance, Mr. Paresh Thakkar, Senior Vice President, described the customs broker as the vital thread holding the entire EXIM chain together, declaring their commitment to leading, innovating, and helping build the Viksit Bharat of 2047. The prestigious Inaugural Session brought together an eminent cross-section of leaders from Indian Customs and the country’s premier ports ecosystem. The distinguished dais featured key government and port authority heads, including Shri Yogendra Garg, Member (Customs), CBIC; Shri Gaurav Dayal, IAS, Chairman, JNPA; Dr M Angamuthu, IAS, Chairman, Mumbai Port Authority; and Shri Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping. Joining them were industry captains Capt. Deepak Tiwari, Managing Director, MSC India and Chairman, CSLA; Capt. BVJK Sharma, CEO, Navi Mumbai International Airport; and Shri Niraj Ambani, Group President — Supply Chain, Reliance Industries. Additionally, Shri Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman, CBIC, addressed the massive gathering online, while the session also took the opportunity to felicitate industry veterans for their distinguished, lifelong contributions to the EXIM community. Throughout the day, panel sessions drew prominent voices from policy, shipping lines, terminals, and academia to deliberate on the long-horizon roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047. The conclave concluded with a highly impactful Valedictory Session titled “Custom Brokers and Freight Forwarders — Growth Partners.” The concluding keynote address was delivered by Mr. Dhimant Parekh, Founder of The Better India, who emphasised the critical role of brokers as front-line trade-facilitation partners within the CBIC, DGFT, and PGA frameworks. For more such news and updates, visit CARGOCONNECT.
UltraTech Cement has deployed 45 electric heavy-duty trucks for clinker transportation in northern India, marking one of the largest electric trucking deployments in the region’s cement sector and expanding the company’s efforts to decarbonise logistics operations. The new fleet will transport clinker from UltraTech’s Kotputli Cement Works in Rajasthan to its grinding units at Dadri and Sikandarabad in the Delhi-NCR region. The route spans approximately 250 kilometres and passes through Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The deployment is being undertaken in partnership with Energy In Motion and follows the signing of a transport service agreement involving the company and its logistics partners. Each vehicle in the fleet has a carrying capacity of 55 tonnes, enabling the movement of large volumes of clinker on a key supply corridor for UltraTech’s northern operations. The company estimates that the electric trucks will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 8,900 tonnes annually while replacing the consumption of approximately 2.9 million litres of diesel each year. The initiative represents a significant step in the commercialisation of long-haul electric freight transportation in India’s heavy manufacturing sector. By deploying battery-powered trucks on a high-volume industrial route, UltraTech aims to demonstrate the operational viability of electric heavy-duty vehicles for large-scale cargo movement across multiple states. Commenting on the development, K.C. Jhanwar, Managing Director of UltraTech Cement, said the company views logistics decarbonisation as an important component of its broader sustainability strategy and its efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels across the supply chain. The latest deployment adds to UltraTech’s growing portfolio of low-emission transport assets. The company was among the early adopters of cleaner freight solutions in the cement industry, introducing compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks in 2021, liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks in 2022 and electric trucks in 2024. As of FY26, UltraTech operates 638 CNG trucks, 32 LNG trucks and 89 electric trucks across its manufacturing network. The addition of 45 new electric vehicles further expands its fleet of more than 750 green trucks. The deployment follows a series of electric mobility initiatives undertaken by the company over the past two years. UltraTech began testing electric trucks for clinker movement in 2024 and subsequently scaled up operations on other routes after pilot projects demonstrated operational feasibility. As India seeks to reduce emissions from freight transportation and accelerate the adoption of electric commercial vehicles, large-scale deployments such as UltraTech’s are increasingly being viewed as important test cases for the future of long-distance industrial logistics. The company said it will continue working with logistics partners and technology providers to expand the use of cleaner transportation solutions across its supply chain. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
CEVA Logistics has expanded its presence in West Africa through a new joint venture with EFL Africa, a leading Nigerian logistics company. The newly established entity, CEVA EFL Limited, is expected to enhance logistics connectivity across Nigeria and provide customers with greater access to international supply chain networks. The partnership brings together CEVA Logistics’ extensive global reach and end-to-end logistics capabilities with EFL Africa’s established local infrastructure and market expertise. The move underscores the growing importance of Nigeria as a strategic logistics hub and gateway to West Africa, a region experiencing increasing trade activity and supply chain investments. Through the joint venture, businesses operating in Nigeria will gain access to a broader portfolio of integrated logistics services, including freight forwarding, transportation, customs brokerage, warehousing and inland logistics solutions. By combining local market knowledge with international logistics capabilities, CEVA EFL aims to address longstanding operational challenges while improving supply chain efficiency for customers across the region. A key feature of the new operation is its dedicated barge transportation service designed to move containers between Lagos ports and Inland Container Depots (ICDs). The initiative is expected to reduce reliance on congested road networks, shorten transit times and improve cargo flow in one of Africa’s busiest logistics corridors. The venture will also leverage approximately 140,000 square metres of ICD infrastructure located in Ikorodu and Apapa, including an Export Processing Terminal that supports import and export activities. In addition, CEVA EFL will provide customs clearance services through an in-house licensed team, enabling faster cargo processing and greater visibility throughout the supply chain. Industry observers view the development as a significant step toward modernising logistics operations in Nigeria while strengthening the country’s role in regional trade. The joint venture is also expected to support knowledge transfer and workforce development by combining global best practices with local operational expertise. Executives from both organisations have highlighted the partnership’s potential to create more resilient and customer-focused logistics solutions while contributing to economic growth in Nigeria and the wider West African market. As supply chains continue to evolve across Africa, the launch of CEVA EFL reflects a broader trend of international logistics providers investing in strategic regional partnerships to strengthen market access, improve infrastructure utilisation and support cross-border trade growth. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 CARGOCONNECT 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬!
