Union Budget 2026: Aviation Cargo, Logistics, Dairy, Edible Oils, Electronics & Banking Leaders Seek Infrastructure Push and Value-Chain Reforms
As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1, 2026, at 11 AM, industry leaders from aviation cargo, logistics, dairy, edible oils, electronics manufacturing, and banking are calling for sustained infrastructure investments, supply-chain resilience, export competitiveness, and technology adoption to fuel India’s economic momentum amid 6.5–7% GDP growth projections.
The logistics sector, projected at ~US$384 billion in 2026 with air cargo throughput growing at ~11.5% CAGR through 2033, seeks targeted support for multimodal connectivity and digitisation. Dairy and edible oils players emphasise value-added processing, cold-chain infrastructure, and oilseed productivity to reduce import dependence and boost farmer incomes. Electronics manufacturers highlight the need for policy stability to move beyond assembly toward integrated design and local value creation. Banking leaders call for stable credit flow, digital transformation, and AI adoption to manage risk and sustain lending growth.
Dr Vandana Singh, Chairperson, Aviation Cargo, Federation of Aviation Industry in India (FAII):
“India’s economy is showing resilience with real GDP growth around 6.5% in FY25, underpinning broader industrial expansion. The logistics market, projected at ~US$384 billion in 2026 and growing at about 9% CAGR, is a vital growth engine. Air cargo throughput, now over 3.8 million tonnes, is forecast to expand at ~11.5% CAGR through 2033, highlighting rapid demand from e-commerce and exports. In aviation, India ranks among the top five global markets, underscoring the need for targeted budget support in cargo infrastructure, multimodal connectivity, and digitisation to sustain trade and competitiveness.”
Kauhal Mehta, Managing Director, Walpalst Pvt Ltd.:
“India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy, driven by strong domestic demand and robust public capital expenditure. The construction sector, contributing nearly 18% to India’s GVA, remains a vital engine of growth and employment, supported by sustained investments in infrastructure, urban development, and housing. Looking ahead, GDP growth of 6.5–7% and construction growth of 8–10% are expected next fiscal, led by government-led infrastructure spending and a gradual revival in private capex. Policy continuity, stable energy costs, and incentives for sustainable construction materials will be key to maintaining this growth momentum.”
Ranjith Mukundan, CEO and Co-Founder, Stellapps Technologies:
“India is the world’s largest producer of milk, yet our share in global dairy exports remains disproportionately low. As we approach the Union Budget, the opportunity is to convert scale into value by strengthening the dairy value chain from farm to market. With over 80 million smallholder dairy farmers, greater emphasis on agri-tech adoption, digital dairy procurement, and robust cold-chain infrastructure is essential to improve productivity, milk quality, and consistency. A clear push towards value-added dairy products can help India move beyond liquid milk to export-ready formats that meet global standards for safety, nutrition, and traceability. This shift will enable farmers to scale productivity and herd size, improve quality and cost competitiveness, and position India as a credible supplier of value-added dairy products in international markets.”
Sparsh Sachar, Director and Business Head, FMCG, Nutrica:
“Budget 2026 has a real opportunity to tackle one of India’s most persistent food vulnerabilities: our dependence on imported edible oils. We are hoping to see a sharper push on oilseed productivity and procurement, stronger agri-credit and climate-resilient farm infrastructure, and a more predictable import-duty framework that protects farmers without whiplashing consumers. Beyond staples, the next wave of growth in food will be nutrition-led. Incentives that strengthen food processing, modern storage, and value-added categories like honey and peanut butter can help build healthier choices at scale while creating better realisations for farmers.”
Nikita Kumavat, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Brandworks Technologies:
“Electronics prices are under pressure globally due to rising costs of critical components such as semiconductors and memory chips, driven by AI-led demand and ongoing supply-chain constraints, rather than any direct consumer-level taxation. These pressures are being felt across the industry. Budget 2026 signals a clear shift toward strengthening India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem, with an emphasis on long-term value creation rather than short-term price interventions. Selective policy and duty measures aimed at encouraging local manufacturing may have a near-term cost impact, but they are essential for reducing import dependence and improving resilience. The next phase of India’s electronics growth lies in moving beyond assembly to integrated design, engineering, and scalable production.”
Ranga Reddy, CEO, Maveric Systems:
“I believe the upcoming Budget can play a crucial role in shaping the next phase of growth for Indian banks. Demand for loans remains strong, but banks are becoming more careful about how they manage money and risk. As they go increasingly digital and adopt AI, their operations are becoming more complex and harder to manage. The Budget should support stable funding and smoother flow of credit to keep lending healthy. At the same time, encouragement for technology, digital systems and the responsible use of AI is equally important. Clear and consistent policies can help banks grow faster while staying reliable, transparent and focused on delivering better outcomes for customers.”
These expert perspectives reflect a unified call for the Union Budget 2026 to deliver infrastructure momentum in logistics and air cargo, value-chain enhancements in dairy and edible oils, policy stability and local manufacturing incentives in electronics, and digital/AI support in banking collectively accelerating India’s export competitiveness, farmer incomes, supply-chain resilience, and inclusive economic growth.
Last Updated on: Tuesday, January 27, 2026 10:50 am by Republic Post Team | Published by: Republic Post Team on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 10:50 am | News Categories: News
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