Jaina & Company at 125: Mapping the Next Century for India’s Air Cargo Leadership

A century of continuity: Jaina & Co. celebrates 125 years as India’s oldest family-owned carrier, evolving from a colonial-era trade route to global digital logistics in 60 countries.

· Policy-aligned digital transformation: The company’s shift to paperless documents and AI-driven shipment management supports India’s National Logistics Policy and Prime Minister Jati Shakti’s goals to reduce logistics costs to 8-10% of GDP.

· Mainly air cargo development: With strong operations in pharmaceuticals, automotive and e-commerce, Jena’s air cargo capabilities are in line with India’s projected growth of air cargo to 10 million tonnes per annum by 2030.

· Global integration strategy: Recent global expansion into Sydney and new partnerships in Europe and ASEAN indicate a move towards direct global trade corridors that reduce reliance on transshipment hubs.

· Heritage Meets Leadership: Under fifth-generation leadership, Jena combines its legacy of trust and people-first values ​​with innovation and sustainability to define the next era of India’s air cargo competition.

As the Indian logistics and freight forwarding industry transforms into a digitally-driven ecosystem, there are few names that embody heritage and innovation quite like Jenna & Company. In October this year, the family-owned company – India’s oldest and one of the world’s few fifth-generation logistics companies – celebrated 125 years of operations, a milestone that represents a case study in flexibility, adaptability and vision. But for industry watchers, GINA’s anniversary isn’t just an occasion to honor the past; It highlights how legacy institutions are poised to shape India’s air cargo and business integration story into the next century.

From colonial trade routes to digital shipping routes

Founded in 1900, Jena & Co. began as a trading and shipping agency during the late colonial era, when India’s export trade was dominated by cotton, tea and juice. Over the decades, the company has grown in tandem with India’s economic and industrial policies – from supporting export growth after independence in the 1950s to liberalization in the 1990s and now, leading the era of digital transformation.

Today, Jena’s network spans 60 countries across six continents, supported by 27 offices in India, serving sectors including pharma, life sciences, automotive, engineering, retail and defense logistics. Its operations include air and sea freight, customs brokerage, warehousing and project logistics. Jaina is also one of the largest customs brokers in India, offering paperless documentation – a first in the country’s shipping industry.

At a time when India’s air cargo sector is expected to reach an annual handling capacity of 10 million tonnes by 2030, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, GINA’s longevity

It highlights how family-owned logistics enterprises played an integral role in building the country’s shipping corridors before the arrival of modern global consolidators.

125 Years of Legacy: People, Politics and Purpose

Speaking at the company’s anniversary event in Mumbai, Sam Katgara, Partner, Jaina & Co., emphasized the sustainable principles that have guided the company’s growth. “As we celebrate Jenna’s 125th anniversary, we honor a legacy of service built on passion, integrity and trust. Our strength is in our people – more than a quarter of our team has been with us for 15 years. Through challenges and new beginnings, our commitment remains the same: not to be the biggest, but to be the best.”

This focus on longevity and internal culture is becoming increasingly important given the rapid consolidation of the logistics sector in India. While new entrants are driving the digital transformation, established companies like Jena are leveraging regulatory expertise to tighten international trade standards and air cargo certification frameworks under the International Air Transport Association (IATA) One Record and CEIV Pharma standards.

New generation, new approach

The entry of fifth-generation leaders—Ayesha, Nari and Jay Katgara—represents continuity and reinvention. Managing this trio is already reflected in Jena’s transformation roadmap, which is based on three key pillars: technology integration, sustainability, and human capital development.

Ayesha Katgara, who heads the company’s transformation office, described the achievement as an honor and a transition. “We are very proud of our legacy of trust, goodwill and partnership. This achievement is not just a reflection of our past, but a commitment to the future. At the heart of technology, digital transformation and our people, we are determined to build on this legacy and build a future that is flexible, innovative and global.” Aisha said.

Digital transformation has become Jena’s core strategy. The company’s move to paperless customs documents is fully aligned with India’s National Logistics Policy (NLP) and PM’s Gati Shakti Framework – two major initiatives designed to reduce logistics costs to 8-10% of GDP, from the current 13-14%. By adopting Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), AI-based cargo tracking, and pre-customs clearance tools, Jena aligns its operations with end-to-end supply chain transparency from a government perspective.

Airfreight Dimensions: Expanding Horizons

Airfreight has always been central to Jena’s logistics portfolio. The company handles temperature-controlled shipments of pharmaceuticals, time-sensitive parts for automotive customers, and e-commerce parcels through international gateways like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. With India’s pharma exports surpassing USD 27 billion in FY24 and life sciences logistics expected to grow at 9% annually till 2030, Jena’s cold chain investment puts it at the intersection of two growth frontiers – healthcare logistics and sustainable air freight.

Commenting on the change, Bradyman Cole, CEO of Jena & Co. said: “We are not only celebrating 125 years in the industry; we are reaffirming our role in building…

The next era of Indian logistics. GINA’s mission is to combine heritage and innovation, delivering sustainable, technology-enabled shipping solutions that are globally competitive yet locally relevant.

The company’s expansion to Sydney by 2025 and its growing partnerships with European and Asian shippers indicate strategic efforts to integrate Indian exports directly into global supply chains without over-reliance on intermediary hubs in Dubai or Singapore. The shift reflects India’s wider push to establish direct air freight links with emerging markets under free trade agreements with the UK, UAE and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

Industry Context: Restructuring Logistics in India

Jaina’s 125th anniversary coincides with a historic shift in India’s logistics and air freight sector. The government’s National Air Cargo Policy envisages India becoming one of the top three global logistics hubs by 2030, supported by digital customs platforms, multi-modal corridors, and a new wave of airport modernization led by public-private partnerships.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), India’s air cargo volume is expected to grow 10.4% annually through 2024, surpassing the global average of 6.5%. Much of this growth has been driven by the pharmaceutical, electronics and e-commerce sectors, sectors where Indian carriers compete extensively with large international companies.

As geopolitical trade tensions and US tariff regimes prompt manufacturers to diversify away from China, Indian integrators are emerging as preferred partners for logistics services across Asia. GINA’s longevity thus demonstrates not only corporate resilience but also national resilience – demonstrating how legacy logistics companies can become digital enablers of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Work East’ ambitions.

As Jay Katjara expressed his opinion: “Every successful business depends on the contributions of all levels and the core values ​​created at the start. As we prepare to lead Jena into its next chapter, we feel the weight of responsibility and the excitement of possibility.”

Expectations: From Legacy to Leadership

Jaina’s journey from the colonial era to the digital logistics of the 21st century reflects the broader evolution of India’s business ecosystem – from a commodity-exporting country to a high-value manufacturing and service economy. As the company enters the next century, the challenge will be to maintain its legacy of trust while expanding technology to meet new global standards of efficiency and sustainability.

In an age where logistics companies often measure success by evaluation rather than values, Gina’s flexibility offers a counter-narrative: that consistency, reliability and care for people can form the basis of competitive advantage.

As Nari Katjara succinctly sums up, “At Jena, we don’t measure the number of employees, we measure the number of hearts. 11% of our workforce has been with us for more than 15 years – they carry our history and values ​​forward. We are proud to honor our legacy of building a global, innovative, people-based new story. Over the next 150 years and beyond.”

For India’s air freight and logistics sector, Jina’s 125th anniversary is more than just a corporate celebration – it’s a timely reminder that logistics is not about surviving the past, but shaping the future of global business.