Viksit Gujarat: Maritime, Logistics & Export Summit 2026 concludes successfully with strong industry participation
AHMEDABAD: The “Viksit Gujarat: Maritime, Logistics & Export Summit 2026”, organised by India Shipping News jointly with the Knowledge Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), concluded successfully on Friday (27-02-26) at Hyatt, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, witnessing an overwhelming response from the maritime, logistics, export-import, infrastructure and policy fraternity.
The high-level Summit brought together leading policymakers, senior port officials, industry stalwarts, trade association leaders, financial institutions, exporters, logistics professionals, academicians and young entrepreneurs on a single platform to deliberate on Gujarat’s growing role in India’s maritime and export-led growth story.
Inaugural Session Sets Strategic Direction
The Inaugural Session was graced by eminent dignitaries from Government, port authorities and industry leadership, who emphasised the importance of integrated infrastructure development, port-led growth, multimodal connectivity and export competitiveness and women empowerment aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Viksit Gujarat.
The Inaugural Session of Viksit Gujarat: Maritime, Logistics & Export Summit 2026 witnessed thought-provoking addresses from eminent leaders representing policy, ports, customs, trade associations, and academia. The session commenced with a Welcome Address by Shri Bharat Patel, Director General, Knowledge Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), who underlined the importance of collaborative policy and industry engagement in achieving the vision of Viksit Gujarat. This was followed by Theme Remarks by Shri Devang Joshi, Chairman, Ahmedabad Customs Brokers’ Association, who highlighted the critical role of customs brokers in ensuring seamless trade facilitation and regulatory compliance. Delivering the Regional Women Empowerment Address, Dr. Mangla Chouhan, Vice President, Baroda Management Association (BMA), emphasized the importance of inclusive growth, leadership diversity, and capacity building in strengthening Gujarat’s economic ecosystem. A strong maritime perspective was brought forth through the Ports Address by Shri Rajesh Menon, Maritime Expert, who spoke about strategic port-led development and global maritime competitiveness. The session further featured a brief Address by Shri Lokesh Damor, Additional Commissioner of Customs, Ahmedabad, who spoke on Customs and digitization. The Inaugural Session concluded with an impactful Keynote Address by Capt. Santoshkumar Darokar, Joint Director General (Technical) / Principal Officer, Directorate General of Shipping, Government of India, who elaborated on India’s maritime roadmap, regulatory advancements, safety standards, and the nation’s growing global shipping footprint and Vote of Thanks by Ms. Sabarnaa M, Editor, India Shipping News.
A significant highlight of the Inaugural Session was the release of an insightful White Paper titled “Port-led Development: Ports as Cognitive Engines of Industrial Growth in Gujarat” authored by Prof. (Dr.) Jitesh J. Thakkar, Dean (Academics) & Professor – Logistics & SCM, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University sponsored by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India,
Insightful Deliberations Across Thematic Sessions
The Summit featured focused panel discussions covering:
- Session-I: Ports of the Future: Infrastructure, Investment & Global Integration
Moderator:
Shri Amit Oza, Founder & CEO, Astramar Shipping & Trading Services
Esteemed Panelists:
Shri Nilabhra Das Gupta, IRS, Dy. Chairman – Deendayal Port Authority
Shri Hitesh Arya, VP and Business Head Road Logistics Solutions, Adani Logistics
Shri Vinesh Tejwani, Founder, Worldspace Industrial & Logistic Park
Dr. Dharmesh Raval , Head , Centre of maritime Economy, Gujarat Maritime University (GMU)
Shri Rajesh Menon, Associate Director and Maritime Expert, GOI
- Session-II: Next-Gen Logistics – Strengthening Hinterland Connectivity & Multimodal Infrastructure
Moderator:
Prof. Debjit Roy, Ph D, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
Esteemed Panelist Details:
Smt. Rini, IRTS SRDOM-BRC
Shri Govind Prasad Saini, IRSEE, CGM, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd.
Shri Sanjeev Verma, VP and Business Head Rail & ICDs, Adani Logsitics
Shri Rajat Gupta, Chief Manager, ICD Khodiyar, Container Corporation of India Ltd.
Shri Tapasvi PVN, Vice President, Exim Commercial & Logistic, Arvind Ltd.
Ms. Hiral Kotadiya, Head of AI, WebOccult
- Session-III: Global Trade Winds – EXIM Strategy, Policy & Supply Chain Realignment
Moderator:
Dr. Darshan Mashroo, Director & COO, EPT Global Logistics Pvt. Ltd.
Esteemed Panelists:
Dr. Rahul Singh, I.T.S, Jt. Director General of Foreign Trade, DGFT, Department of Commerce, GoI
Shri T.K. Solanki, Asst. Director, MSME-DI, GoI
Shri Suvidh Shah, Addl Director General, FIEO, New Delhi,GoI
Dr. Chandra Kant Upadhyay, Asst.Professor, Gujarat Maritime University
CA Minal Mehta Buch, Founder and Lead Consultant, Bizbrains Advisors
Moderated by seasoned industry experts, the sessions generated meaningful discussions on cargo diversification, supply chain resilience, EXIM financing, infrastructure modernisation, compliance frameworks, digital transformation, and sustainable logistics practices.
Panelists shared practical insights, policy recommendations and forward-looking strategies aimed at strengthening Gujarat’s position as a national leader in maritime trade and logistics efficiency.
Gujarat SMILE Awards 2026 Recognise Excellence
A major highlight of the Summit was the presentation of the Gujarat SMILE Awards 2026, honouring outstanding contributions in the Logistics and Export sectors. The awards recognised industry leaders, young professionals, CSR contributors, trade institutions and lifetime achievers who have significantly contributed to strengthening the ecosystem.
The Awards ceremony received an enthusiastic response and was appreciated for its transparent and credible jury process.
The Summit witnessed good participation from across Gujarat, including representatives from port authorities, customs, EXIM trade bodies, customs brokers, freight forwarders, ICD operators, exporters, academia and financial institutions.
The organisers expressed their sincere gratitude to all dignitaries, speakers, sponsors, jury members, trade associations, delegates and partners whose presence and support made the event a grand success.
Full Event Coverage to Follow
A detailed report covering key highlights, policy insights, award winners, speaker quotes and photo features from the Summit will be published shortly in India Shipping News.