Over 550 delegates, government leaders and industry
stalwarts unite around the vision — “One Fraternity, One Vision: Logistics
Driving India Towards Viksit Bharat”
Mumbai, 20 June 2026 : The Brihanmumbai Custom Brokers’ Association (BCBA), established in 1939, successfully hosted the second
edition of The India Logistics Conclave 2026 at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai,
drawing more than 550 delegates, invitees and guests from across the customs,
ports, shipping, trade and logistics ecosystem. Anchored in the theme “One
Fraternity, One Vision — Logistics Driving India Towards Viksit Bharat,” the
day-long Conclave brought senior government leadership and industry stalwarts
onto one platform to chart the road to a developed India by 2047.
The proceedings began at 09:45 a.m. with the ceremonial inauguration of the CBIC Pavilion, followed by the Inaugural Session. In a defining moment, Shri Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC), delivered the welcome address live online, sharing the Board’s vision for a modern, trust-based and technology-led customs administration — received by the fraternity as a source of great strength and inspiration.
The inaugural dais featured an eminent gathering of
dignitaries. These included Shri Yogendra Garg, Member (Customs), CBIC; Shri
Anupam Prakash, Joint Secretary, Customs; Shri Sushil Mansing Khopde, IPS,
Additional Director General of Shipping; Shri Sunil Jain, IRS, Director General
of Valuation; Capt. BVJK Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Navi Mumbai
International Airport; Capt. Deepak Tiwari, Managing Director, MSC India and
Chairman, CSLA; Shri Om Hisaria, Senior Executive Vice President, Reliance
Industries Limited; and Mr Mukesh Oza, Group President & CEO, Samsara
Group. They were joined on the dais by BCBA President Mr Sanjeev Harale and
Senior Vice President Mr Paresh Thakkar.
“To see this fraternity stand shoulder to shoulder with the
highest offices of government and industry, under one roof and one vision, has
been deeply humbling,” said Mr Paresh Thakkar, Senior Vice President, BCBA.
“What we have built over two editions is not merely an event, but a platform
where the customs broker’s voice is heard, respected and woven into the
national agenda. That is the legacy we intend to carry forward.”
The intellectual heart of the Conclave lay in its four
business sessions, each a moderated plenary of national stature.
Session 1, “India 2030, 2035, 2047 — A Roadmap for Viksit
Bharat,” was moderated by Mr Shantanu
Bhadkamkar and brought together Shri Yogendra Garg, Member (Customs), CBIC; Mr
Shailesh Haribhakti, eminent voice on economy and governance; Capt. Deepak
Tiwari of MSC India and CSLA; Dr Prasad Pradhan, senior strategy and resilience
advisor; and Mr Rahul Ahluwalia, Director & Co-Founder, Foundation for
Economic Development.
Session 2, “Building India’s Digital Spine — Customs &
Trade,” was moderated by Mr Dushyant Mulani.
The panel comprised Shri Anupam Prakash, Joint Secretary, Customs; Shri Gaurav
Dayal, IAS, Chairman, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority; Shri Parvinder Singh,
Managing Director, Hans Infomatic; Mr Kunal Maheshwari, Director, Softlink
Global; Mr Faisal Khan, Foundation for Economic Development; and Mr Amit Kamat,
Chairman, FFFAI.
“Custom Brokers are now playing a nodal role in India’s EXIM
Logistics, they are quiet backbone of India’s trade, and forums like this one
finally give that contribution the recognition it deserves,” said Mr Dushyant
Mulani, Immediate Past President, BCBA. “Keeping National interest of being
Globally Competitive it is imperative that government and trade sit at the same
table as partners to conceptualise further trade facilitation measures to
ensure the entire ecosystem moves faster — and that partnership is the real
achievement of this Conclave.”
Session 3, “Geopolitics and the New Geometry of Trade,” was moderated by Mr Tej Contractor and featured Dr Pritam
Banerjee of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade; Mr Sachin Vijan, Vanguard
Logistics Services; Mr Fardeen Malbarwalla, Galaxy Freight; Mr S. Mahesh
Mahalingam, Head — EXIM, Larsen & Toubro; and Dr Rumki Majumdar, Director
& Economist, Deloitte India.
Session 4, “Policy and Infrastructure — Building India’s
Futuristic Logistics Ecosystem,” was
moderated by Mr Mihir Parekh of the Foundation for Economic Development, who
served as moderator cum panellist. The session brought together Shri Unmesh
Sharad Wagh, IRS, Commissioner General, JNCH; Shri Ravish Kumar Singh, IRTS,
Deputy Chairman, JNPA; Shri Sagar Rameshrao Kadu, Director (Logistics
Division), DPIIT; Dr Rekha Raikar Kumar, Senior Advisor, Land Port Authority of
India; and Mr Rajiv Chohan, Aegis Vopak Group.
The Valedictory Session, themed “Logisticians — Building a
Better India,” offered an inspiring close. It was led by Mr Dhimant Parekh,
Founder & CEO of The Better India — the world’s largest positive-impact
storytelling platform — and Mr S. Ramakrishna, Past Chairman of FFFAI, who
reflected on conviction, reinvention and the logistician’s role in nation
building.
“This Conclave reaffirmed that the customs broker and
freight forwarder are not mere facilitators, but true partners in India’s
growth story,” said Mr Sanjeev Harale, President, BCBA. “The participation of
the highest echelons of government and industry, and the warmth of over 550
delegates, is a powerful testament to the strength of our fraternity and our
shared resolve to drive India towards Viksit Bharat.”
The Conclave was made possible by the generous support of
its partners. The BCBA extends profound gratitude to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port
Authority (Platinum Sponsor); Navi Mumbai International Airport and MPRS
Shipping (Diamond Sponsors); Softlink Global Private Limited (Gold Sponsor);
and Reliance Industries Limited (Silver Sponsor). The Association also
acknowledges Parekh Global (Lunch Sponsor); Conex CFS, Polaris CFS and Globicon
CFS (Delegate Kit Sponsors); Galaxy Freight (Seat Sponsor); Mumbai Cargo
Service Center (Lanyard Sponsor); and Unifo (Hi-Tea Sponsor); and DBS Bank
(Banking Partner). The BCBA further thanks our Bronze and Associate Sponsors,
along with its Media Partners and supporting organisations, whose collective
faith — despite a challenging global environment — was vital to the success of
the event.
As the second edition closed, the BCBA expressed deep
appreciation to every delegate, dignitary, speaker, moderator and partner who
made the day a success. The Association reaffirmed its commitment to serving as
a unifying voice for the fraternity and advancing the national conversation on
India’s logistics future.
About BCBA: The BCBA,
established in 1939, is one of India’s oldest and most respected representative
bodies for customs brokers, serving as a unifying voice for the customs, trade
and logistics fraternity.
For media enquiries, please contact the BCBA.