African countries have been challenged to prioritise the improvement of their infrastructure, especially increasing cold storage handling, to boost trade and increase wealth.

Participants at a cargo logistics experts’ meeting in Nairobi heard that Kenya and her African peers must strive to eliminate existing trade barriers and exploit talent, especially among the youthful population to achieve much-needed growth.

Denis Lister, Senior Vice President of cargo Product and Innovation at the Emirates SkyCargo airline said the presence of more than 15 freighters at the Air Cargo Africa/Transport Logistic Africa 2025 conference in Nairobi speaks a lot about the appetite for farm produce from this region.

 “The goal is to now inject more freighter capacity into Africa to support the growers and to try and make sure we can get your exports out to the rest of the world,” he said citing the expanding global market for African products.

“We continue to support, and I believe there’s a lot more to be done and I think the world is getting bigger, and more exports is coming out of Africa,” Lister said. Ministry of Agriculture data shows that Kenya earned Sh137 billion, an estimated $1.06 billion from horticulture exports in 2024, down from $1.21 billion in 2023

Emirates SkyCargo airline, Lister noted, quickly started its cargo fleet by modifying passenger flights and moving freight cargo.

“Even the passenger 777-300 Rs became mini freighters,” he added, in a move that saw the airline start operating across the world.

The airline, according to Lister moves 95,000 tonnes of cargo a year which is 95 million kilos from Africa. Africa produces 75,000 tonnes, with 20 million kilos being fresh produce.

Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Chairman Caleb Kositany said Kenya is consistently repositioning itself as a key player in Africa’s air cargo and logistics.

 “The convergence of multimodal transport solutions across Africa, including air freight, maritime shipping, rail networks, and road transportation, will be key in realising the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.

Cargo movement

Kositany pointed to the planned Sea-Air Terminals at Moi International Airport, which will enhance cargo movement by integrating sea freight with air freight for quicker regional distribution. According to Jack Bwana, Commercial Manager in charge of Cargo at KAA, 18 per cent of the world’s population is in Africa, and Kenya, on its part, will take advantage of its young innovative talent.

 “When we talk about our resources, our people, just looking at that market, 18 per cent of the world population is in this continent, and then we have a very young population,” he said.

“The median age of this continent is 19 years, and 40 per cent of the people are below the age of 25 years.”