CONFERENCE AGENDA - FEBRUARY 19, 2025: WEDNESDAY

Air cargo in Africa primed for growth despite all odds

11:00 - 12:15 hrs:

Panel 1 – How African air cargo could be set to soar

Africa, often referred to as the "last frontier" for aviation growth, is rapidly emerging as a significant player in the global aviation market. This is despite its infrastructure constraints, high costs, lack of connectivity, regulatory impediments and slow adoption of global standards. It is a fact that Africa accounts for 18% of the global population, but just 2.1% of air transport activities (combined cargo and passenger). How do we close that gap and increase the continent's share of global air transport activities? How do we leverage the inherent advantages of the continent – vast and diverse landscape, burgeoning economies, and increasing demand for air travel – to support the rapid growth of aviation and air cargo? By 2030, air cargo demand in Africa is projected to grow significantly, driven by expanding trade, e-commerce, and industrialization across the continent. This panel discusses Africa's runway to aviation and air cargo success and leadership.

13:00 - 14:00 hrs:

Lunch Break

14:00 -15:15 hrs:

Panel 2 – Commodity Focus – Perishables by air, what’s keeping them fresh?

Africa has long relied on its rich landscapes, fertile soils, and relatively predictable weather to drive agricultural productivity, significantly contributing to the continent's income. According to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries account for at least 17% of the continent's GDP. Across Africa, the story is the same: growing investment in agriculture by multinational corporations, governments, and private firms all vying for a piece of the pie. The air transport of perishables continues to increase globally each year, driven by growing consumer demand for healthy and fresh produce year-round, irrespective of seasonality. Given the short shelf- life of perishable products, air cargo is the preferred mode of transportation, providing a unique capability to quickly react to changing conditions. How well do air cargo stakeholders keep the perishables they move fresh?

15:15 - 16:00 hrs:

Networking Break

16:00 - 17:15 hrs:

Panel 3 – Facilitating trade within Africa, the importance of developing a multimodal roadmap

Africa is an emerging market rich in natural resources and high-value exports. It has the fastest-growing youth population, an expanding middle-class, and is home to the second-largest internet user population in the world. The continent is swiftly becoming a global powerhouse in online retail. The rise of multimodal corridors in Africa significantly boosts trade within the continent, allowing countries to reap the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. This development has played a crucial role in transforming supply chains within Africa, which have long been held back by poor infrastructure and an outdated logistics framework. With ever-increasing growth in Africa, how do logistics companies respond to enable regional and global trade across the continent, operating logistics through major corridors and trade lanes? This panel will raise questions and will look for answers.

CONFERENCE AGENDA - FEBRUARY 20, 2025: THURSDAY

“Air cargo in Africa primed for growth despite all odds”

09:30 hrs - 10:00 hrs:

Networking Break

10:00 hrs - 11:15 hrs:

Panel 4 – The now and the next technology in air cargo

A market research report estimates that the global air cargo market will reach approximately $217 billion by 2032. The future indeed looks promising, and technology is one of the key drivers. However, the global air cargo industry hasn’t always been at the forefront of digital innovation, but there’s a general acceptance that digitalization is necessary. Traditionally, air cargo has been slow to embrace digitalization, through the integration of legacy technology and the modernization of booking systems. There is a broader consensus that innovative technological solutions are essential to meet the growing demands and challenges of this dynamic industry. What does this look like now? And how do we envision the air cargo industry in the near future? How can it leverage AI and technological solutions to leap forward? These are the topics we will discuss and debate in this panel.

11:15 hrs - 11:45 hrs:

Networking Break

11:45 hrs - 13:00 hrs:

Panel 5 – Commodity Focus – eCommerce, the new air cargo influencer

Growth in e-commerce across Africa is largely driven by technology leaps, compensating for historically lacking economic infrastructure like banks and telecom landlines. Africa is projected to surpass half a billion e-commerce users by 2025, maintaining a steady 17% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Revenues from online sales of groceries and personal care products continue to grow, with steady growth expected through 2025. E-commerce is a major driver of air cargo growth, with Africa seeing significant increases in online retail. The rise in digital platforms, increased internet penetration, and a young, tech-savvy population fuel e-commerce growth, subsequently boosting air cargo demand. This panel discusses how air cargo addresses the increasing cargo volume from e-commerce channels.

13:00 hrs - 14:00 hrs

Lunch Break

14:00 hrs- 15:15 hrs:

Panel 6 – The transformative power of unmanned aerial vehicles in last-mile deliveries

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are proving to be essential delivery vehicles for humanitarian aid and health supplies. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 2 billion people live beyond the reach of essential medicines and quality health care, and drones are helping resolve this last mile problem. In less than 10 years, drones (UAVs) have transformed health care within sub-Saharan Africa by delivering life-saving medicine, vaccines, and blood to overcome last mile hurdles. Despite enormous funding challenges and regulatory hurdles, a growing number of African countries benefit from UAVs. Aerial logistics companies are demonstrating that a drone-based healthcare supply chain is not only possible but transformative. This panel aims to discover more examples of aerial logistics companies transforming the African logistics landscape. Can drones and UAVs become a powerful tool to address the equity gap and improve access to primary health care for the under-reached? This panel aims to go for the moonshot.

15:15 hrs- 16:00 hrs:

Networking Break

16:00 hrs - 17:15 hrs:

Panel 7 – Net Zero by 2050, fact vs fiction

Climate change is already impacting the world, with extreme weather conditions like droughts, heat waves, heavy rain, floods, and landslides becoming more frequent. Other consequences include rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and loss of biodiversity. To limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius—a safe threshold according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)—achieving carbon neutrality by mid-21st century is essential. Net zero is crucial to curb global warming and prevent catastrophic climate effects. Though challenging, it's necessary. It requires a transformative shift in all industries, including air transport and logistics. Net zero demands genuine action, not just emission offsets. Achieving it requires revolutionary changes across sectors. Only by embracing sustainability, investing in renewables, and rethinking consumption can the world pave the way for a resilient, sustainable future. This panel conducts a reality check on Net Zero by 2050 from an aviation and air cargo perspective.