Kenya mulls licensing more foreign air cargo operators to bridge export transport deficit

2021-02-08 16:06:02 GMT2021-02-09 00:06:02(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

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NAIROBI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is ready to license additional foreign air cargo operators in order to bridge the export transport deficit, a senior government official said Monday.

James Macharia, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, told journalists in Nairobi that the country is facing growing demand for exports especially for horticultural products to the European Union.

"So as long as there is fresh produce for exports which requires airlifting we shall continue to licensing even foreign aircraft because what is important is to have aircraft to carry produce from here," Macharia said when Kenya Airways commissioned its first re-purposed passenger Boeing 787 dreamliner to a cargo aircraft.

The Kenyan official said that it is secondary whether Kenya Airways or any other foreign airline ferries Kenyan produce to the rest of the world markets.

"What is critical is that all produce is taken out of this country," Macharia stressed.

He noted that Kenya Airways has been gradually increasing its fleet of air cargo planes but it has not been sufficient to meet domestic demand hence the need to complement with foreign air carriers.

The east African nation two weeks ago licensed a 767 Boeing aircraft to ferry goods out of the country amid growing demand for exports.

"So we are gradually managing to increase capacity and this is what makes a big difference," Macharia noted.

He added that the country is keen to encourage exports of fresh produce because it is a key source of foreign exchange earnings as well as a source of employment especially in the rural areas. Enditem

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