Aaron Heslehurst, the BBC World Business news presenter will be anchoring Air Cargo India 2008, the 2nd biennial international networking conference being organized by STAT Times, at the World Trade Centre,Mumbai from January 23-25, 2008.

Heslehurst has been a BBC World news presenter since February 2002 and is currently presenting the World Business Report and hourly business news bulletin covering the latest from the leading international corporate news to global business as well asbreaking major news stories.

Air Cargo India 2008 is taking place at a time, when India is witnessing a boom in import and export trade and consequently foreign airlines are aggressively expanding cargo capacities in India to be able to take advantage of the immense opportunities created by this boom. The air cargo business in India is at an early stage of development as rapid economicgrowth is putting demand on existing capacity.

As it is, there is a 49 percent limit on foreign direct investment in the air cargo sector, but realising the importance that air cargo has assumed in the fast developing market of India, the Indian Government has proposed increasing it to 74 percent. The Commerce Ministry and the Foreign Investor Promotion Board (FIPB) are studying this issue and a notifi cationis expected shortly.

India’s national carrier Air India has already launched a dedicated freighter service and is aiming at becoming a fully fl edged cargo airline. the carrier has ordered new aircraft for its passenger fl eet and by the time these are inducted, the old aircraft will beconverted into freighters.

“Cargo is very important to the development of a country but there needs to be good logistical support to support this”, Indian Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel said, commenting on Air India’s launch of thefreighter operations.

The minister has also complimented the STAT Trade Times for organising this conference. In a message he said: “I am very glad to know that The STAT Trade Times is coming up with the 2nd international conference and exhibition “Air Cargo India 2008”, from January 23-25, 2008 at the World Trade Centre in Mumbai,” Patel said. “The conference is defi nitely a window to the opportunities available in the Indian air cargo market and is taking place at the right time as India stands at the threshold of becoming an important hub in the international air cargo industry.”