Airline body urges African governments to act on opening market access
‘Strategies don’t move people. Now it is time to make the difficult decisions and execute them,’ senior executive stresses.
SUPPLY CHAIN
Africa is set for world’s largest commercial drone deployment
By our News Team | 2022
Partnership aims to deploy 12 000 drones over five years to improve the reliability and efficiency of continent’s supply chains.
Africa could soon be home to the world’s largest commercial drone deployment – around 12 000 unmanned aircraft that would transform the continent’s supply chains and logistics from the ground up.
German drone delivery pioneer Wingcopter and Continental Drones Ltd., a subsidiary of Ghana- and Dubai-based Atlantic Trust Holding, recently announced that they have signed a partnership agreement to help establish drone-based delivery networks which will see thousands of Wingcopter drones deployed across 49 sub-Saharan African nations.
Photo courtesy of Wingcopter and SUCOM drone communication systems
“These networks will dramatically improve the reliability and efficiency of existing supply chains but also help create completely new ones,” the businesses said in a statement.
According to the statement, over the next five years, the goal of the two partners is to deploy 12 000 Wingcopter 198 units, which are claimed to be the world’s most advanced delivery drone.
“In many African regions, insufficient infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to universal health coverage and economic development. Setting up large-scale drone delivery networks across African airspace will propel logistics in these countries to a new level and help build an entirely new transport framework – much faster, cheaper, more sustainable and more efficient than the development of conventional ground-based infrastructure with all its unhealthy and climate-damaging emissions,” the statement said.
“Bridging the infrastructure gap through the deployment of large fleets of drones, even in the most remote places, will allow governments and the private sector to leapfrog inefficient infrastructure to climate-neutral, reliable and fast logistic capabilities.”
As the Wingcopter 198 is fully electric, it contributes to a more sustainable African logistics sector and will help move economies towards lower emissions.
Said Alexander Asiedu, Founder of Continental Drones and Chairman of Atlantic Trust Holding: “With our longstanding business experience on the ground and Wingcopter’s best-in-class drone technology, these networks offer a real chance to fuel economic development and help improve the livelihood of millions. African nations show true leadership by implementing this cutting-edge technology for the better of their people and generations to come.”
Uganda Tourism Board partners with major European ice hockey league
UTB says its ambition is to turn the visibility into interest, bookings and more visitors choosing to explore Uganda.
Researchers explain why 10-second micro ads outperform longer spots
Short ads shown on TV increased website visits within five minutes of airing by 10-40% compared with longer advertisements.
Competition continues to grow in the Moroccan supermarket sector
Supeco’s rapid expansion shows how the discount model is becoming a bigger part of grocery retail in the North African country.
Study identifies harmful paradox behind well-meaning green efforts
Consumers reward visible eco-friendly additions such as reusable bottles, but give little credit to businesses that reduce or remove products.
President Mahama commissions expanded evaporated milk facility in Ghana
Nestlé believes Ghana will continue to play a leading role in the future of Central and West Africa.
Momentum beginning to build for 2027 ACCS gathering in Addis Ababa
Ethiopia’s marketers gather to celebrate hosting next year’s conference – but with an eye on the hard work ahead.
PwC report examines the future of African entertainment and media
Tech is creating more ways for audiences to connect, but lasting value will come from understanding the people behind those connections.
Unilever investment expands its Vaseline production capacity in Africa
The new production line at the historic Maydon Wharf facility in Durban will address growing international demand.
World MICE Awards in Jamaica honour best African and global achievers
Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and South Africa all feature in the African meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions awards.
AI won’t replace market research. But it will expose weak strategy
Much of the broader conversation around AI in market research assumes conditions that do not consistently exist across many African markets, writes Soyinka Witness.