ZACL Strengthens Partnerships to Boost Air Cargo Growth and Regional Trade
Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL) has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the nation’s air cargo industry following a high-level stakeholder engagement aimed at exploring opportunities for collaboration and trade facilitation.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Zambia Revenue Authority, Department of Immigration, Ministry of Agriculture, NAC2000 Corp Ltd, Zambia Postal Services Corporation, Hill & Delamain, the Zambia Export Growers Association (ZEGA), and other key industry players.
Speaking as Guest of Honour, Mr Paul Mulola, Assistant Director – Aviation at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, emphasised the Government’s vision to develop Zambia into a regional aviation and logistics hub, as outlined in the National Transport Policy (2018–2028) and the Aviation Strategy (2022–2026).
“Zambia’s central location and proximity to a regional market of over 350 million people present immense opportunities for trade facilitation and regional integration. We must now walk the talk to ensure our air cargo and export volumes grow in line with national targets,” he said.
ZACL Managing Director Mr Urvesh Desai highlighted investments in modern cargo infrastructure, including new terminals at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport (SMKIA). Despite these improvements, outbound cargo volumes remain low, with inbound freight accounting for around 60 per cent of total volumes, compared to less than 20 per cent two decades ago.
“Total cargo volumes fell from 49,000 tons in 2005 to just under 19,000 tons in 2024, largely due to limited export diversification and the dominance of low-value perishables in outbound traffic,” Mr Desai explained.
He called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to boost two-way cargo flows, enhance export competitiveness, and integrate Zambia more fully into regional logistics networks.
Regional examples, such as Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, and Nairobi, illustrate how integrated air cargo and multimodal logistics can stimulate trade and attract investment. With Zambia’s ongoing airport modernisation and strategic location, ZACL aims to replicate this success across SADC and COMESA trade corridors.
The discussions also identified bottlenecks and proposed coordinated interventions, reinforcing ZACL’s leadership in promoting efficient cargo movement, supporting exports, and contributing to the Government’s broader trade facilitation and industrialisation agenda.
