Conference Overview

The All India Liquid Bulk Importers & Exporters Association (AILBIEA) will hold its Silver Jubilee Knowledge Conference on Friday, 11 September 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Regal Ballroom, Hotel Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai. The event is themed “India in Full Flow — The Decade of Demand” and is followed by an invitation‑only evening programme commencing at 6:21 p.m..

Agenda and Core Sessions

The morning opens with an inauguration and welcome address by Shri Jayyannt Lapsiaa, President, AILBIEA. Three masterclasses address pressing trade issues:

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

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

Global Suppliers Panel and Customs Reforms

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

The panel discusses demand outlooks across edible oils, grains, petrochemicals and solvents, and evaluates India’s credibility as a counter‑party.

At 2:50 p.m., Shri Anupam Prakash, IRS, Joint Secretary (Customs), CBIC, delivers a “Path‑Breaking Customs Reforms” address, outlining delivered reforms, ongoing implementations and future direction for trade facilitation.

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, focusing on decision‑making under pressure and leading when margins for error are minimal.

Partnerships, Sponsorships and Digital Launch

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 sponsors include Godrej Industries Group, Aegis Vopak, Supreme Petrochem Ltd., VVF Limited, AWL Agri Business and Hindustan Unilever Limited. AGS 360, from Atlantic Global Shipping, serves as the Digital Partner and uses the occasion to launch its integrated digital maritime information and intelligence platform, offering port data, vessel tracking and port‑call estimates on a single interface.

Media partners are Daily Shipping Times, EXIM and other logistics media outlets.

Closing Remarks

In closing, Shri Jayyannt Lapsiaa emphasized 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.”

The evening programme includes a tribute to Mr. Nadir B. Godrej, Chairman Emeritus, Godrej Industries Ltd., and Mr. M. P. Taparia, Managing Director, Supreme Petrochem Ltd., followed by the presentation of commemorative citations.

Registration is via https://forms.gle/u6vB6JTbCVE5VcJc9, with enquiries on WhatsApp +91 98190 30311. Media contact: AILBIEA Secretariat, ailbiea@gmail.com, +91 22‑6155 9910 / 6155 9999, www.ailbiea.com.

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