The twin initiatives, SAATM and Nigeria’s AfCFTA-backed air export route, are expected to ease mobility, improve trade efficiency, and cut reliance on non-African transit hubs. By targeting internal cargo flow and passenger connectivity, they mark a shift toward making African markets more accessible to Africans themselves.
In a conversation with Global South Pole, Angu’zu Raymond, a space and aviation law researcher with the UN Space Generation Advisory Council, underscored the link between open skies and economic self-sufficiency. He explained that the real value of the initiative lies in enabling faster, direct trade across the continent without costly detours through foreign hubs.
“So with this new mode and this agreement — and in implementing the measures under the Single African Trade Market, small and medium enterprises in places like Nigeria, which is a regional hub for economic scale within Africa, can now reach out to diversify the market and connect with other African countries,” he explained.
To listen to the whole discussion, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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