Navi Mumbai, Feb 18 (NationPress) The express logistics giant FedEx revealed on Wednesday its plans to inject over Rs 2,500 crore into establishing a fully automated cargo hub at Navi Mumbai International Airport, in collaboration with the Adani Group.

According to a statement from FedEx, this long-term investment will facilitate a proposed 300,000 sq. ft. facility, designed to serve as a regional consolidation and redistribution hub, developed in partnership with Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. (AAHL).

This hub will utilize the NMIA’s multimodal infrastructure to enhance the international trade corridor in Western India. Upon becoming operational, it is anticipated to generate over 6,000 direct and indirect jobs in logistics, warehousing, transportation, and related services, as stated by the company.

The ground-breaking ceremony was conducted at the cargo terminal site of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, attended by prominent figures such as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, AAHL Director Jeet Adani, FedEx President and CEO Raj Subramaniam, and FedEx COO, International, Richard Smith.

Jeet Adani remarked, "This development highlights the long-term vision of NMIA to build integrated infrastructure that boosts India’s trade competitiveness. Its proximity to Jawaharlal Nehru Port, industrial corridors, and multimodal transport networks positions NMIA as a vital player in supporting high-growth export sectors and strengthening Maharashtra’s status as a global logistics hub."

FedEx MEISA President Kami Viswanathan noted, "India’s position in global trade will increasingly hinge on the reliability and speed of its logistics infrastructure. Establishing this hub at NMIA enables us to merge our global network capabilities with India’s rapidly growing trade corridor, offering enhanced certainty, speed, and efficiency to our clientele."

The hub will enhance trade flows across Southeast Asia, West Asia, Europe, and the United States, integrating global connectivity into India’s main trade corridor. Featuring state-of-the-art automated sorting systems, dimensional scanning, high-speed screening technology, and dedicated aircraft parking bays, it will facilitate simultaneous handling of inbound and outbound shipments, improving routing flexibility and predictability of transit times, especially for high-value and time-sensitive products such as electronics, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and perishables. The enhanced reliability is anticipated to bolster export-import capabilities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), while also contributing to reduced logistics costs and quicker turnaround times, according to the company’s statement.

The NMIA’s cargo infrastructure is set to commence with an initial handling capacity of around 0.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) annually, with plans to scale up to approximately 3.25 MMT in its ultimate phase. This gradual capacity expansion aligns with the airport’s long-term vision to establish the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) as one of India’s most advanced air freight and logistics hubs.

Leveraging nearly three decades of operations in India, this hub will further solidify FedEx’s presence while reinforcing NMIA’s role as an integrated aviation and multimodal trade platform within global supply chains, the statement concluded.