Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday (February 1, 2026) said that a multimodal cargo network integrating air, road, rail and water routes will be established, with Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) serving as its primary hub.
He was inaugurating the plenary session of the International Cargo Business Summit, organised by CIAL in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), marking the 25th anniversary of CIAL’s cargo department.
The Chief Minister stated that CIAL is striving to create a business environment favourable to the State’s economic growth beyond just functioning as an airport. He noted that CIAL handled over 65,000 metric tonnes of cargo in the last financial year, and this is expected to rise to 74,000 tonnes in the current fiscal. “CIAL has provided a 50% dividend to its investors and stands as a model for the entire country through its operations. Construction of three bridges benefiting four panchayats is also under way. CIAL has begun the process of obtaining certification for handling pharmaceutical products, which will commence immediately upon approval,” he said.
Industries Minister P. Rajeeve, who chaired the meet, mentioned that prominent global companies establishing logistics parks near CIAL would allow for greater utilisation of the airport’s cargo potential. He said that the presence of large-scale companies reflects the growth rate of cargo movement in the region.
The chief minister also honoured institutions that demonstrated excellence in cargo exports during the ceremony. CIAL managing director S. Suhas, CIAL cargo Ddepartment head Satheesh Kumar R. Pai, MLAs Anwar Sadath and Roji M. John, CIAL director Varghese Jacob, and airport director G. Manu spoke.
Published – February 01, 2026 07:22 pm IST
