Nicolas Danton, Regional Cargo Africa for Qatar Cargo is surveying the scene at the just concluded FIATA World Congress in Cape Town, South Africa.
     Qatar Cargo landed Nic, who today can count 30 years in the business, about six years ago in November 2013.
     Since then the soft-spoken executive has stepped up and made things happen.
     What it is about Nic Danton is, this great cargo professional continues to deliver his specialty—the shipping business to and from Africa as the Doha-based carrier moves into top of the heap in global air cargo airlines.
     A long-time air cargo professional who brings first-hand knowledge from both sides of this business, having already made a great reputation whilst at DHL and Expeditors, and prior to the forwarder turn, at Lufthansa Cargo.
     What you like about Nic right away is that he is a no-pressure guy, who always seems to be leaning into and expanding the conversation.
     Worth mentioning in Nic’s impressive work resume is that the Mauritius-born cargo specialist speaks English and French fluently, worked for and alongside the legendary and great Peter Rose, a true giant of this industry who took freight forwarding to another level, founding and then operating Expeditors.
     Nic’s experience in moving products ranges from textiles to coal mining, oil and gas.
     So, from both sides of the fence—the airline and the forwarder, Nic understands what great service is and what needs to be delivered and he manages to be knowledgeable with a velvet glove.
     He has a genuine smile and manner that lets it flow in any situation.
     Anyone old enough to remember the big band era in popular music might recall the easy crooning boy singer.
     Not sure if Nic can carry a tune in a basket but he sure could be the poster boy in 2019 for the “Mohair Sam” of another era.
     That particular attribute cannot be taken lightly.
     Today with versatility, market knowledge and just plain business decency, Nic has the Knack, anyway you look at it.
     “Opening up Africa to the world for trade is the every day mission and what we are doing at Qatar Cargo,” Nic said.
     “Building two-way traffic both into Europe and via our hub in Doha is an exciting proposition right now.
     “Our footprint is bigger and growing faster, as we expand into new cities and are part of the drive to new markets.
     “QR will open service to Gabarone in December 2019 and Angola in March 2020,” Nic said.
     “Our vision for Africa is quite clear:
     “Here is the continent of opportunity of the 21st century and QR leads the way with 22 online stations.
     “No question that Qatar Cargo is the go-to resource in Africa with high safety and security standards and great customer service. Qatar Cargo is moved by people and our mission is to connect Africa with the world, develop new products and support the emerging economies.”
     Nic lives in Johannesburg with his wife Christel, and Sacha, the youngest of the couple’s three children, while son Samuel and daughter Charlotte attend Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape province of South Africa.
     Nic admits that his career has included quite a few moves but characteristically he smiles and says softly:
     “My family is just great—as we move, they have always been onboard, perhaps a bit of a cry on arrival and again on departure, but overall the experience has produced some lasting friends all around for all of us.
     “Qatar Cargo is growing at a record clip.
     “We are winning because Qatar Cargo understands the human condition and steps up.
     “As example, people can fill up two big suitcases inbound and basically sell the contents at home.
     “That might not be a big deal, but to people working to take hold with new business enterprises, Qatar Airways is paying attention,” Nic Danton said.
Geoffrey

Issa Baluch may know as much about logistics as anybody you will ever meet.
    Issa possesses the chops and know-how gained over a career that spans 40 years.
     Best known as the founder of Dubai-based Swift Freight, which was a medium sized multi-national that he eventually sold to Barloworld, one of Issa’s lasting contributions is that he is the guy that launched sea-air in Dubai.
     These days Issa is at Harvard in the USA, where as a visiting professor he is undoubtedly continuing to think, share and teach big thoughts about logistics.
     While others in the west profess some expertise on Africa, Issa Baluch who was born in Kenya has spent years developing, farming and building understanding by breaking down challenges there.
     He is Chairman of First Hectares Capital, an agribusiness and forestry infrastructure investment company for Africa. Another African venture where Baluch is Chairman is African Agribusiness Knowledge and Innovation Leadership Initiative (AKILI), hosted at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Advanced Urbanism (MIT-CAU), the U.S.-based non-profit organization that provides financially, socially and environmentally sustainable farming in Ghana.
     We caught up with Issa on the sidelines of the recent FIATA World Congress in Cape Town, South Africa as he shared some further thought.

FT:   What is your take on Africa at the moment?
IB:   Africa, as a continent, is moving in the opposite direction to Brexit. 55 countries are committed to make the Africa Free Trade Zone (AFTZ) work so they can achieve the economies of scale to pursue investments, manufacturing on the basis of freedom of movement of people, goods & currency!

FT:   What are the bright spots?
IB:   Several countries are ahead of others and these include Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, DRC, Ivory Coast, South Sudan Just to name a few!

FT:   What are some areas of concern?
IB:   The time table the African leadership have committed themselves to this project - is it feasible? How fast can the open sky be achieved in real terms?

FT:   How can logistics open some doors?
IB:   Logistics is key and FIATA has been singled out as one that can support this journey! Without the “wheels of commerce” fully inducted it will be a challenge. This ties into the liberalization of the open skies policy in Africa which is within this frame work - how else can they achieve freedom of movement of people, goods and currency without opening the skies? Particularly when infrastructure cannot support the planned drive.

FT:   Can you offer a view of Southern Africa?
IB:   Southern African countries are set to take maximum advantage of the AFTZ - this can be beneficial to them!

FT:   How can the success of a place like Cape Town lift the rest of the continent?
IB:   Cape Town is set to play its role as a regional player.

FT:   What can people interested in growth and the future begin to build in Africa?
IB:   At minimum a sales and contact representation in Africa - then build from there as things get clarity!
     Policies are clear, attracting investments because the availability of natural resources and the keenness to do business are there.

FT:   We hear of Rwanda in the same breath as Singapore? Can you comment?
IB:   Commitment to make change is quite visible!
     The winds of change are shaping Africa. We have far too many heroes versus villains, as witnessed in the past. The young generation 35 and under comprise approximately 70% of the population so delivering tangible results is a call of the hour!

More Thoughts On Air Cargo

Traditional Forwarders Playbook

     We should make no mistake, if the traditional forwarder does not embark on innovation, it will be wiped out.
     There is a process that demands that everyone get on board, catch up, and embrace the new thinking of this modern age.
     What suffices today is outdated tomorrow. Those that are content with today’s deliverables are in for a surprise.
     The emergence of virtual forwarders is because the traditional forwarders have left all the windows of innovation wide open for newcomers to jump in.
     So better think of what the customers of tomorrow want, while keeping innovation and talent development moving forward on a priority basis.
     All effort must be raised toward more investment and forward-looking activities.

The Human Factor

     One final point on this—the best and worst asset remains the human element.
     It is humans that make or break organizations.
     I see no change to this narrative.
     I recall that the popularized “y2k” did not stop the world.
     Having said this, there is adequate space for virtual forwarders (VF), but only those that will base their offering with complementary skills—this will be crucial in the long run.
Geoffrey