Messe Muenchen India, one of the country’s leading B2B trade fair organisers and part of the Messe Munchen Group, has acquired the India International Cargo Show (IICS) from Upstream Business Solutions LLP.
Following the acquisition, Messe Muenchen India and Upstream Business Solutions will work together to shape and develop future editions of IICS, as the event enters the next stage of its growth.
The move follows a strong 2025 edition, which attracted more than 25,000 trade visitors from over 80 countries. More than 200 exhibiting brands participated in the event, showcasing their capabilities across more than 15,000 square metres of exhibition space.
Over the past four years, IICS has developed into a specialised business platform serving a broad range of logistics and cargo stakeholders. Its community includes freight forwarders, airlines, shipping lines, ports and terminals, warehousing and cold-chain operators, express logistics providers, cargo handlers and logistics technology companies.
The acquisition further strengthens Messe Muenchen India’s logistics-focused trade fair portfolio. IICS will now sit alongside transport logistic India, air cargo India and the upcoming project cargo India.
Together, these events are expected to provide a broader and more connected platform for businesses involved in cargo movement, handling, storage and management across air, sea, rail and road. The expanded portfolio is also expected to reinforce the logistics trade-fair ecosystem across India and South Asia.
Bhupinder Singh, President IMEA, Messe München and CEO of Messe Muenchen India, said the acquisition would allow the organisation to offer the industry a wider range of complementary platforms.
“India International Cargo Show has built strong relationships across India’s cargo and freight-forwarding industry. Bringing it into our portfolio allows us to serve the market through a series of focused yet complementary platforms. Exhibitors, visitors, associations and industry partners will be able to engage with a much wider part of the logistics value chain through one coordinated portfolio. At the same time, every event will continue to address the specific business priorities and communities it was created to serve.”
The next phase of IICS comes at a time when India’s expanding international trade is placing increasing pressure on the country’s freight, cargo and supply-chain infrastructure.
According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in April 2026, India’s merchandise exports reached $441.78 billion, while imports stood at $774.98 billion in FY 2025–26. This brought the country’s total merchandise trade to approximately $1.22 trillion.
Messe Muenchen India’s expanded portfolio will also become part of the Messe Munchen global transport logistic network. The international network includes its flagship event in Munich, as well as trade fairs in China, India, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey and the United States.
Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe Munchen, said India is expected to play an increasingly important role in the future of global trade and logistics.
“India is central to the future of global trade and logistics, and this acquisition underscores our long-term commitment to the market. By combining IICS’s strong local reach in freight forwarding and multimodal cargo with the international transport logistics network, we are building a connected platform that delivers lasting value for customers, partners and the industry.”
Messe Muenchen India held transport logistic India and air cargo India in Mumbai in February 2026, while project cargo India is scheduled to make its debut in 2027.
Each event will retain its own sector-specific identity and focus while forming part of a coordinated portfolio designed to serve a wider segment of the logistics industry.
IICS, meanwhile, will continue to build on the industry relationships and identity that have supported its growth since its launch. Messe Muenchen India and Upstream Business Solutions will jointly develop the platform as it moves into its next phase.
Mohit Mewani, Founder and CEO of Upstream Business Solutions LLP, said maintaining the trust established with the IICS community would remain a central priority.
“The India International Cargo Show has been built on the trust and long-term support of its exhibitors, sponsors, associations, speakers and visitors. As IICS enters its next phase with Messe Muenchen India, protecting that trust and building on what the industry has helped create will remain the foremost priority. The focused character of IICS and existing exhibitor commitments will continue. Participants will also gain access to the international reach, sector expertise and resources of the Messe Munchen network. This creates a strong path forward for IICS exhibitors, with greater visibility, broader market connections and more opportunities to participate across a growing logistics portfolio in India and internationally.”
The Mumbai edition of the India International Cargo Show 2026 will go ahead as scheduled from December 2 to 4, 2026, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai.
Details and dates for the 2027 edition will be announced separately.
