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Forwarders invest in Africa to boost air cargo market
来源：Shipping News Headlines 编辑：编辑部 发布：2021/03/11 10:19:54
RECENT investments by large forwarders in Africa will lead to infrastructure improvements, with DHL expanding its capabilities in South Africa in January by investing in a new 10,000 square metre warehouse with pharma facilities near Johannesburg Airport.
In the same month, CEVA Logistics acquired Moroccan freight forwarder ASTI Group. In December, CEVA also took a majority stake in Egypt-based IBA Freight Services, as well as a minority stake in Ethiopia-based MACCFA. In the same month, DSV started the acquisition of Globeflight Worldwide Express, a South Africa-based courier company.
In addition, CEVA last summer announced it had acquired a controlling shareholding in third-party logistics provider AMI Worldwide, which has a presence in 12 countries in east and southern Africa through its brands AMI and Manica, reports London's Air Cargo News.
Sanjeev Gadhia is the founder and chief executive of privately-owned, Kenya-headquartered cargo airline Astral Aviation, and a trustee and vice chairman at TIACA.
He says investment from forwarders will result in better and more secure infrastructure at airports - a key challenge currently faced by Africa-based carriers, which directly impacts air cargo.
"Large freight forwarders have big pockets," he says. "They have a lot of financial resources - that's something really needed in Africa. They're able to construct warehouse facilities and can invest in equipment like trucks.
He adds: "Forwarders are also investing in communities in Africa by employing local people and training them up."
Ethiopian Airlines is directly benefitting from forwarders' interest in Africa. The carrier has formed a joint venture with DHL that enables it to offer multimodal logistics services to its customers.
Managing director of Ethiopian Cargo, Fitsum Abadi, says: "Africa is attracting all kinds of investments - agriculturally and industrially.
"There are a lot of industrial parks in Ethiopia - we have around 15. Logistics companies like DHL know that Africa will be a future high-yield market. That's why they're expanding here."
In the same month, CEVA Logistics acquired Moroccan freight forwarder ASTI Group. In December, CEVA also took a majority stake in Egypt-based IBA Freight Services, as well as a minority stake in Ethiopia-based MACCFA. In the same month, DSV started the acquisition of Globeflight Worldwide Express, a South Africa-based courier company.
In addition, CEVA last summer announced it had acquired a controlling shareholding in third-party logistics provider AMI Worldwide, which has a presence in 12 countries in east and southern Africa through its brands AMI and Manica, reports London's Air Cargo News.
Sanjeev Gadhia is the founder and chief executive of privately-owned, Kenya-headquartered cargo airline Astral Aviation, and a trustee and vice chairman at TIACA.
He says investment from forwarders will result in better and more secure infrastructure at airports - a key challenge currently faced by Africa-based carriers, which directly impacts air cargo.
"Large freight forwarders have big pockets," he says. "They have a lot of financial resources - that's something really needed in Africa. They're able to construct warehouse facilities and can invest in equipment like trucks.
He adds: "Forwarders are also investing in communities in Africa by employing local people and training them up."
Ethiopian Airlines is directly benefitting from forwarders' interest in Africa. The carrier has formed a joint venture with DHL that enables it to offer multimodal logistics services to its customers.
Managing director of Ethiopian Cargo, Fitsum Abadi, says: "Africa is attracting all kinds of investments - agriculturally and industrially.
"There are a lot of industrial parks in Ethiopia - we have around 15. Logistics companies like DHL know that Africa will be a future high-yield market. That's why they're expanding here."