Addis Ababa, August 9, 2023 (Addis Walta) The Ethiopian Airlines (EA) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mesfin Tasew, said that the airline pledges to continue its contribution to strengthening the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Mr. Mesfin affirmed that the airline, taking the Pan-Africanism thinking from the very beginning, has been connecting Africans for several decades.
As part of its initiative as well as to smoothen the movements of goods across the continent, the airline announced a 10 % discount on all cargo transportation fees.
The Group CEO underscored that the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Zone will greatly contribute to the economic integration of African countries and the airline is committed to supporting this endeavor.
Mr. Mesfin, speaking to Ethiopian News Agency, indicated that compared to other international airlines, African airlines are lagging behind, in terms of passengers and cargo services, and that this has to change in order to effectively compete in the global aviation industry.
In this respect, Ethiopian Airlines has strengthened in all areas of transportation services. Hence it has been fulfilling its continental responsibilities in terms of connecting the continent with the rest of the world as well as among countries within Africa.
The African Continental Free Trade Area plays a crucial role in people-to-people relations as well as the movements of goods within the continent and regions, pointed out Mr. Mesfin.
He also said that the free trade area will contribute significantly to the economic development of the continent, which countries should work with determination and collaboration.
Launched in 2019, the African Continental Free Trade Area has been operational in some parts of the continent and is expected to raise Africans’ income by 9% in 2035. It is forecasted that 50 million Africans will come out of the poverty line due to the job opportunities created by the free trade zone.