1st Edition of CII Gujarat Logistics & Supply Chain Management Summit 2026 – “Empowering Gujarat as a Future-Ready Logistics Hub:Integration, Innovation & Infrastructure”

AHMEDABAD: The 1st Edition of the CII Gujarat Logistics & Supply Chain Management Summit 2026 concluded today, bringing together the state’s most influential policymakers and industry titans. Under the theme “Empowering Gujarat as a Future-Ready Logistics Hub: Integration, Innovation & Infrastructure,” the summit outlined a strategic roadmap to cement Gujarat’s position as India’s premier gateway for global trade.

The summit opened with a powerful call to action. Mr Girish Aggarwal, Convenor, CII Gujarat Logistics & Supply Chain Taskforce, & Managing Director, Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited, APM Terminals, delivered the welcome address, setting the context for a day focused on seamless integration. Mr Aggarwal underscored the significance of this milestone event, “This is the first edition of the CII Gujarat Logistics and Supply Chain Summit, and it brings together government, industry, and infrastructure leaders on a common platform. At a time when global supply chains are undergoing major transformation, resilience, efficiency, and sustainability have become critical for India’s growth. Our objective is to generate practical, actionable outcomes that will support investments, create jobs, and enhance trade competitiveness.”

This was followed by insights from Mr Achal Bakeri, Vice Chairman, CII Gujarat State Council, & Chairman & Managing Director, Symphony Ltd, who highlighted the critical role of logistics in scaling Gujarat’s industrial output, “I see three imperatives for Gujarat’s logistics future: First, Integration—We must break silos. Our ports, dry ports, warehouses, and transport networks must function as one seamless ecosystem. Data must flow as smoothly as cargo. Second, Innovation—We must embrace technology. From IoT-enabled tracking to AI-powered route optimisation, from blockchain-based documentation to automated warehousing, the future of logistics is digital. Third, Infrastructure—We must invest strategically. Not just in physical assets, but in skill development, sustainability practices, and regulatory frameworks that enable rather than constrain.”

The session was further enriched by special addresses from Mr Paras Desai, Convenor, CII Gujarat Food & Agro Taskforce, & Executive Director, Wagh Bakri Tea Group, who remarked, “Gujarat is well positioned with robust port infrastructure at Mundra, Pipavav, Kandla, and Hazira, supported by strong state and national road connectivity. However, a significant volume of export cargo from South Gujarat continues to be routed through Nhava Sheva and JNPT (Mumbai), primarily due to logistical convenience and proximity. This indicates a clear opportunity to further strengthen Gujarat’s port-centric logistics ecosystem to capture greater export and import volumes”.

Mr Upparapalli Venkat Rao, CEO & Director, Essar Ports, emphasised the need for resilient supply chains in an era of global volatility — “Modern port efficiency is no longer just about speed—it’s about creating integrated, predictable flow systems where marine operations, cargo handling, and evacuation work seamlessly together. Ports must function as multimodal logistics platforms, tightly linked with rail, road, and industrial networks, enabled by technologies like AI, IoT, digital twins, and automation. True scalability comes from new modular designs and operational resilience, not just adding capacity, while expansion readiness demands strong master planning and stakeholder coordination. Sustainability now ties everything together—modal shift, renewable energy, and green practices are essential for global competitiveness, as ports are increasingly judged not only by volumes handled but by how responsibly they operate.”

Mr Amit Oza, Co-Convenor, CII Gujarat, Logistics & Supply Chain Taskforce & CEO, Astramar Shipping & Trading Services, concluded the session with a vote of thanks, transitioning the floor to deep-dive technical discussions.

The first panel, moderated by Mr Samir J Shah, Director, JBS Jeena Logistics, focused on Port-Led Growth and Infrastructure Development: Strengthening Gujarat’s Gateway Advantage. Key insights were shared by:

• Captain Dharam Prakash, Head, Adani Dahej Port, on port efficiency.
• Mr Upparapalli Venkat Rao, CEO & Director, Essar Ports, on expanding maritime capacity.
• Mr Harsh Lapsia, Partner, U M Khona & Company, on the complexities of customs and trade facilitation.
• Mr Mihir Parekh, Associate Partner, Foundation for Economic Development, on the economic ripple effects of infrastructure spending.

The second panel, moderated by Mr Chintan Mehta, Partner, Technical Advisory, KPMG, explored the future of logistics in Gujarat through Modal Shift, Technology, & Sustainability. The discussion featured a diverse range of perspectives:

• Smt Rini – IRTS – Indian Rail spoke on the Rail connectivity, Reducing Logistics cost and carbon emissions.
• Mr Rohit Bajaj, CMD, Segal Group of Companies, highlighted the necessity of agile management.
• Mr Rajat Gupta,Chief Manager, Container Corporation of India, Ahmedabad spoke on the shift toward rail-led multimodal transport.
• Mr Sameer Patel, Vice President, Globelink WW India, addressed global connectivity trends.
• Mr Ankit Kapasi, Sustainability Lead, DSS+, provided a roadmap for decarbonising the supply chain to meet international ESG standards.

The event wrapped up with a final synthesis by Mr Amit Oza, who noted that the synergy between private innovation and public policy seen today would be the engine of Gujarat’s growth. The summit concluded with an extensive networking lunch where attendees and speakers continued the dialogue on building a more integrated logistics ecosystem.

About Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India, partnering with industry, Government, and civil society, through advisory and consultative processes.