The Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL, has sealed a partnership deal with the cargo units of Air France/KLM. The partnership is part of efforts to boost cargo export in Nigeria.
The collaboration was disclosed last week at a customers’ forum in Lagos. The deal will enhance the freight of locally made goods, especially tonnes of farm produce to Europe and America.
Country Manager of Air France/ KLM cargo, Gabriel Lalande, described the partnership with SAHCOL as a huge boost for Nigeria’s drive for export as part of efforts to diversify the economy.
He said Nigeria had for too long experienced a huge gap in import and export of goods through the airports. Lalande noted that with the slump in value of the naira and economic recession, the country is beginning to maximise its export potentials with attendant opportunity for efficient cargo services.
“Nigeria has a lot of import and export capacities, but currently freighting at low capacity. Most people do the import business, but who wants to grow the export?” he quizzed
He noted that import in Nigeria for first half of 2016 is already minus 21 per cent because of high cost of foreign goods due to foreign exchange and less demands.
