Brussels Airport signs cargo MoU with Hyderabad Airport

Brussels Airport has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad International Airport to strengthen cooperation in air cargo development, knowledge sharing and connectivity between Brussels and Hyderabad.

The partnership will also explore opportunities to combine Brussels Airport’s expertise in pharmaceutical logistics with Hyderabad’s life sciences ecosystem.

Brussels Airport and Hyderabad International Airport will work to strengthen links between their pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. Although there is currently no direct air service between Brussels and Hyderabad, the two airports will explore opportunities to improve connectivity and expand air cargo links between Belgium and India.

“With this MoU, we are taking an important step to bring the ecosystems of Brussels Airport and Hyderabad International Airport closer together. By strengthening cargo flows between our regions, we can support trade and economic growth. As Europe's preferred pharma and life sciences hub, Brussels Airport has built a strong ecosystem and extensive expertise in pharmaceutical logistics. Combined with Hyderabad's leading life sciences ecosystem, this creates valuable opportunities for future cooperation and knowledge exchange,” said Arnaud Feist, CEO, Brussels Airport.

“Hyderabad’s growing economic base and strategic location position it strongly to serve as a gateway for India’s international trade. Our collaboration with Brussels Airport strengthens our ability to connect Hyderabad with the wider European cargo ecosystem and supports our ambition to build a more globally integrated cargo network. By bringing together market expertise, industry partnerships and complementary strengths, we can create new opportunities for businesses in Hyderabad and across the region while strengthening the airport’s role in India’s international trade corridors,” said Kadhir Kadhiravan, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport.

Brussels Airport has developed expertise in pharmaceutical logistics, supporting Belgium’s position as the world’s fourth-largest exporter of pharmaceutical products. In 2014, the airport became the first in the world to achieve CEIV Pharma certification, an internationally recognised standard for the handling and transport of pharmaceutical products.

The airport now has 45,000 square metres of temperature-controlled storage capacity, making it home to Europe’s largest concentration of dedicated airport storage facilities.

India is a major player in the global pharmaceutical industry and the world’s largest supplier of generic medicines, accounting for around 20% of global supply by volume. Hyderabad is at the centre of the country’s life sciences sector and is a major hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccines and research and development.

The MoU was signed with support from Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), the Flemish government agency responsible for promoting international trade and investment. The agreement comes as Belgium and India strengthen their economic ties.

In the coming months, Brussels Airport and Hyderabad International Airport will work on initiatives aimed at increasing cargo traffic and strengthening the pharmaceutical and life sciences supply chain between the two regions.