Pushing Africa's connectivity agenda

Africa will be an aviation growth point over the next twenty years and South Africa is committed to growing air freight connectivity in Africa. That was the message from Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters when she delivered a keynote address at the International Air Transport Association (Iata) Africa Aviation Day conference held in Johannesburg last month. South Africa is working with several of its regional neighbours to improve route networks on the continent – and in line with the National Development Plan, the country was forming strategic partnerships to grow the aviation industry and thus facilitate increased intra- Africa trade. “To date, about 45% of intra-African exports travel by air and air transport contributes over US$12bn to the African GDP – can you imagine the untapped potential if the current 12% of intra-African trade is significantly increased? “The development of air transport in our region and in the whole of Africa is therefore our biggest and largest ambition. We need to work towards interconnectivity,” noted Peters. INSERT & CAPTION About 45% of intra- African exports now travel by air. – Dipuo Peters