CII Amritsar Zonal Council meeting: Experts weigh on realising potential of air exports of farm produce to boost Indo-Afghan trade

CII Amritsar Zonal Council chairman Davinder Singh concluded that tapping perishables’ potential demands better coordination among airport, customs, and handlers

The CII Amritsar Zonal Council meeting on Wednesday highlighted air exports of farm produce as a key force multiplier for the region’s economy, following discussions on Indo-Afghan trade opportunities via Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport.

The Indo-Afghan Business Commission (I-ABC), convened by its former Punjab chairman Gunbir Singh, reviewed trade potential through the Amritsar airport after stakeholder interactions.

Experts including former Indian ambassador Navdeep Suri, Airport Director Bhupinder Singh, RahatCargo MD Sunil Kohli, and exporter Sahib Singh Bajwa, shared insights on enhancing cargo throughput.

Bhupinder Singh revealed that the facility handled only 236 metric tonnes of imports and 972 metric tonnes of exports last year, despite a 250-tonne holding capacity for perishables and non-perishables. “He offered his complete commitment to assist the trading community in sorting out any gaps forthwith to reach the potential which is manifold,” the council noted.

Sahib Singh Bajwa, a farmer who returned from Canada to work in Punjab, pointed to ample opportunities for local produce but flagged delays from limited aircraft space, short customs hours, and holidays.

Suri praised the session as the “finest granular interaction on trade” he had seen among Indian business chambers and proposed an Amritsar-Kabul-Dubai trade axis with frequent wide-bodied flights. Kohli agreed to underwrite 1,500-1,800 tonnes of weekly cargo, provided swift clearances and suitable flights.

Convenor Gunbir Singh emphasised the gap, stating, “Lahore, just 35 miles away, exports twenty times as much cargo as Amritsar. We cannot ignore the impact export of perishables can have on the farm economy of the region. Add to this the potential of value-added products, textiles, pharmaceuticals et al, as well as onwards connections from Kabul and other destinations, this could well be the economic force multiplier for the border region and the state. However, to make this happen the airline shall require import loads as well to keep their freight charges optimum.”