The first-day sessions of the International Cargo Business Summit at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) highlighted Kochi’s growing role as a strategic logistics gateway connecting India with Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Industry leaders, logistics operators and regulatory authorities discussed the twin priorities of accelerating e-commerce growth while ensuring safety, compliance and efficiency in an increasingly digital trade environment. Tushar Jani, Chairman of the Cargo Service Centre Group, described CIAL as a global benchmark for efficiency, calling it among the cleanest airports with one of the country’s leading cargo facilities. He noted that Kochi is well positioned to serve as a primary gateway to Western and Middle Eastern markets, supported by India’s competitive trucking costs. He also referred to the Government of India’s pilot initiative to establish e-commerce export hubs across 10 strategic locations. Speakers underlined that the success of e-commerce exports ultimately depends on the “last mile”. Anil Syal, President of Safexpress, and Dr. Britto Satheesh of the CSS Group stressed that in a B2C (business-to-consumer) environment, trust is the most critical factor. While digital platforms and payment gateways have simplified market access, they cautioned that any failure in final delivery directly impacts consumer confidence. The Department of Posts outlined its expanding role in logistics support. L. K. Dash, Director of Postal Services, said India Post has evolved beyond handling small parcels and is now equipped to transport larger consignments, including home appliances. He added that India Post is integrating with cross-border logistics networks with a commitment to deliver consignments across the country within 10 days. As cargo volumes increase, regulatory authorities emphasised the need to balance facilitation with security through technology adoption. Dr. Tiju Thomas, Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), said that while digitisation has transformed cargo clearance processes, “blanket facilitation” is not feasible where national, environmental and security concerns are involved. He urged exporters to complement digital tools with strong compliance knowledge and operational preparedness. Aviation safety also featured prominently during the sessions. Deepak Yadav, Deputy Director, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), cautioned that misdeclared or improperly packaged dangerous goods continue to pose serious risks to air cargo operations. He called for standardised approvals and stricter enforcement to bridge regulatory gaps across jurisdictions. In a significant boost for agricultural exports, Dr. Nagaraju of the Directorate of Plant Protection announced the introduction of a mobile application enabling real-time inspections using geo-tagged photographs. The initiative, along with digital phytosanitary certification agreements with four major trading nations, is expected to reduce processing time and eliminate the need for physical documentation.