The agreement was signed at the Air Cargo Africa conference by Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo and Sanjeev Gadhia, CEO of Astral Aviation.
The airlines will work on initiatives including interline options and block space agreements to enhance connectivity and boost the reach of African businesses.
Abbas says, “This partnership with Astral Aviation solidifies our longstanding commitment to the market, creating mutually beneficial economic opportunities to keep goods flowing quickly, reliably and efficiently.”
Gadhia adds, “Today marks a pivotal step in our, over 15 years, commercial partnership and reflects our shared vision to elevate air cargo solutions to, from and within Africa. Together, we will unlock new opportunities, driving innovation and strengthening global trade connectivity.”
Economic and investment cooperation between the UAE and Africa is growing, most recently with the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the UAE and Kenya.
The CEPA will accelerate trade and investment in agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, travel and tourism, financial services and renewable energy.
The agreement between Emirates SkyCargo and Astral Aviation lays foundations for further growth by improving trade flows and generating economic opportunities.
It will also help achieve the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to increase Africa’s exports to the rest of the world by 32% by 2035.