With added focus on Africa during Black History Month in America, we check in with SWISS WorldCargo, sharing an overview from top cargo professionals on the scene including Alexander Arafa, Head of Area and Contribution Management, and Shankar Iyer, Regional Manager Africa, Middle East, and India.
      Both are attending Air Cargo Africa in JNB this week.
      SWISS flies to Cairo, Nairobi, Marrakech, Johannesburg, and Tanzania, connecting these gateways with its worldwide cargo destinations.
      “In terms of overview, the African continent is rich in metals, minerals, oil, agriculture, and floriculture produce (south eastern part.)
      “There are limited industries, namely auto manufacturing and garment, and agriculture produce is seasonal and mainly feeds European markets,” the airline said.

The Action

      “The Eastern part of Africa has seen faster growth versus central and West Africa, due to past colonization, followed with third generation of Indian and Chinese influx into Kenya and Tanzania with current and future activities building infrastructure projects.
       “Hence, by default, the nations in north and east Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, and South Africa have flourished.
      “The aforementioned activity has resulted in skeletal road connectivity, which does not exist on the western side of the continent.”

Hope Rising

      “Africa is a mixed bag of desire: political stability, good intra-state relations and connectivity, and security of goods to facilitate freight movement.
      “Seaports have yet to reach quantum of trade as seen in the Middle East, which is naturally on the line of path to Europe and North America.”

How Air Helps

      “Air transportation will help primarily to bridge the gap due to lack of safe and stable intra rail, road, and waterways between the states.”
      “Primary focus will be on movement of healthcare, high value, and perishable goods.  
      “Circling the continent with ships is not ideal.
      “Connectivity is a success story that has to develop to the next level with improved infrastructure and use of transparent and efficient e-processes.
      “Transportation concentrates activities around NBO and JNB because there are not many other options.”

Change In The Air

      “But change is in the air.
      “Established airports like ADD are hubs connecting Asia and South America, while CAI is now ramping up its crumbling airport cargo facilities to serve world markets.”
Geoffrey