Conference Overview

On Friday, 11 September 2026, the All India Liquid Bulk Importers & Exporters Association (AILBIEA) will hold its Silver Jubilee Knowledge Conference at The Regal Ballroom, Hotel Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai. The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and is themed “India in Full Flow — The Decade of Demand”. A separate Silver Jubilee Evening begins at the muhurat of 6:21 p.m. in the same venue.

Opening and Masterclasses

The conference opens with an inauguration and welcome address by Shri Jayyannt Lapsiaa, President of AILBIEA. Three masterclasses follow, each addressing a current pressure point for the liquid bulk trade:

  • Geopolitics, Maritime Risk & the Liquid Bulk Supply Chain – presented by Capt. Pankaj Kapoor of Quadraant Legal, covering chokepoints, war‑risk, sanctions exposure and implications for Indian cargo owners chartering tonnage.
  • Dispute Preparedness in the GSTAT Era – delivered by Shri S. K. Rahman, IRS Technical Member of the GST Appellate Tribunal, focusing on how importers and exporters should build and defend matters under the new appellate architecture.
  • Free Trade Agreements in Services – led by Dr. Joshua Ebenezer, Principal Consultant at NuCov Facili‑Trade, outlining logistics, storage, testing, certification, surveying and chartering chapters in India’s FTAs.

EMI‑AEO Open‑Floor Session

From 12:15 p.m., the floor opens to importers, exporters, terminal operators, customs brokers and surveyors for an unstructured discussion on the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) framework. Participants will state what works, what does not, and required changes. All interventions are captured live and consolidated into a formal Outcome Document that will be submitted to the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) as India pursues its AEO coverage targets for 2028. Key discussion themes include the trust‑based framework, faceless examination, National E‑Bond, Transfer of Ownership, participating government agencies routing under SWIFT 2.0, and Customs Integrated Systems 2.0.

Global Suppliers Panel

At 2:00 p.m., a Global Suppliers Panel, moderated by Shri Avinash Maheshwari of Geo‑Chem Laboratories (Cotecna Group), brings international suppliers into dialogue with Indian buyers. Panelists are:

  • Mr. Reece H. Cannady, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USA)
  • Shri Vikash Sharma, Director, Godrej International Trading & Investment (Singapore)
  • Mr. Indrajit Vishwanath, Abacus Chemie (UAE)
  • Shri Ajay Aloni, Cellmark Asia (India)

The discussion spans edible oils, grains, petrochemicals and solvents, focusing on demand outlook and India’s reputation as a counter‑party.

Customs Reform Address

At 2:50 p.m., Shri Anupam Prakash, IRS Joint Secretary (Customs), CBIC, delivers a “Path‑Breaking Customs Reforms” address, detailing what has been delivered, what is under implementation, and the future direction for trade facilitation.

Flagship Address

The conference culminates at 3:15 p.m. with the flagship address “Leadership at 26,000 Feet” by Capt. Raghu Raman, Founding CEO of NATGRID, on decision‑making under pressure and leading when the margin for error is gone.

Partners and Sponsors

Event partners for the Silver Jubilee celebrations are Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), Mumbai Port Authority, Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla) and Adani Ports & SEZ. Supporting partners include Godrej Industries Group, Aegis Vopak, Supreme Petrochem Ltd., VVF Limited, AWL Agri Business and Hindustan Unilever Limited. AGS 360, from Atlantic Global Shipping (AGS), serves as the Digital Partner, launching an integrated digital maritime information and intelligence platform that consolidates port data, vessel tracking and port‑call estimates.

Media and Communications

Media partners are Daily Shipping Times, EXIM and other logistics‑media outlets. A quote from Shri Jayyannt Lapsiaa emphasizes the conference’s purpose: “We did not want a Silver Jubilee conference of speeches. We wanted a room where the trade says plainly what it needs, the Government hears it directly, and something leaves the room in writing. Twenty‑five years have taught us that when industry and Government speak with trust, trade moves faster and the nation gains.”

Evening Programme

The Silver Jubilee Evening, starting at 6:21 p.m., includes a tribute to Mr. Nadir B. Godrej, Chairman Emeritus of Godrej Industries Ltd., and Mr. M. P. Taparia, Managing Director of Supreme Petrochem Ltd., followed by the presentation of Silver Jubilee Commemorative Citations. Attendance is strictly by invitation.

Registration and Contact

Registrations are accepted via https://forms.gle/u6vB6JTbCVE5VcJc9. Enquiries can be made on WhatsApp at +91 98190 30311. Media contact: AILBIEA Secretariat, email ailbiea@gmail.com, phone +91 22‑6155 9910 / 6155 9999, website www.ailbiea.com.

Disclaimer

The press release is provided under an arrangement with NRDPL; PTI assumes no editorial responsibility.