European consignees latch onto benefits of Dubai hub

CAPITALISING ON its strategic geographic location coupled with efficient transhipment connections, Emirates has attracted significant market share to a range of nontraditional destinations. According to SA cargo manager Kum Naicker, among the airlines big movers are processed leather, textile products and perishables to Germany, communication equipment to Turkey and perishables to the UK, France and Italy. “With infrastructure developments like the World Central and Dubai Logistics City and the capacity for handling cargo in this part of the world along with the strategic geographic location of our region in relation to key manufacturing markets like India, China and Africa will continue to fuel a robust air cargo industry in the Middle East," he said. “World Central and Dubai Logistics City and the new Cargo Mega Terminal are the major growth projects in Dubai at the moment with the CMT scheduled for completion by the end of this year.” He believes the infrastructure being put in place will allow the air cargo and multi-modal market to grow in an unconstrained manner, offering shippers in South Africa the advantage of speed, capacity and streamlined links to the rest of the world.