Ghana's air freight industry has been given a boost with the addition of Saudi Airlines Cargo, a leading air cargo carrier and passenger airline in the Middle East. This brings to nine, the number of freight forwarders operating in Ghana. Saudi Ambassador to Ghana, Hisham Mishal Swailem Al- Swailem, who was the guest of honor, said Ghana's cargo industry will experience enhancement in its level of operation with the introduction of Saudi cargo with its high international quality standard aircraft. He said “the role of Saudi cargo is to bridge the world to Africa especially Ghana, West African and the Middle East.” At the launch in Accra last Monday, Vice President Commercial, for Saudi Airlines Cargo, Peter Scholten expressed confidence of a positive operation in Ghana. He said that the conducive business environment in Ghana was what informed their decision to start operations in Ghana. Peter Scholten, Vice President (Commercial), Saudi Airlines Cargo, Ghana, he said is an emerging market with enormous business potential for air cargo. The addition of this new destination will help to increase the airlines activities in Africa, where they already operate scheduled B747 freighters from Saudi Arabia to Nairobi, Lagos, Addis Ababa, N'djamena, Khartoum and Johannesburg. Managing Director of Air Ghana Michael Maguire said his company is looking forward to developing products in Ghana and finding markets for Saudi Cargo in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. He said the introduction of another cargo airline will provide Ghanaian exporters with more choices in bringing goods into the country. Separately, Saudi Airlines Cargo Co. has strengthened its international organization with the appointment of Keku Gazder as Regional Director Cargo for the Indian Sub Continent Region, effective April 1, 2012. “His extensive knowledge of the cargo industry, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia, will be a tremendous asset to Saudi Airlines Cargo,” said Peter Scholten, VP Commercial at Saudi Airlines Cargo. Gazder will be responsible for the further development of the cargo markets in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
