The African Union (AU) has announced a strategic plan to support African-built aircraft, shipping lines, and transport infrastructure as part of its broader goal to drive job creation, industrialisation, and economic self-reliance across the continent.
Speaking at the Luanda Summit, co-hosted by AUDA-NEPAD, Lerato Mataboge, the AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, revealed that the Union is spearheading initiatives to strengthen Africa’s maritime, aviation, and road transport sectors through local manufacturing and intra-continental collaboration.
Mataboge explained that the AU is determined to end dependency on foreign imports by fostering the local production of aircraft and shipping vessels. This, she said, would ensure that economic value and employment opportunities remain within Africa, empowering industries and communities alike.
“There are plans to ensure the continent manufactures a large percentage of aircraft and their components locally,” Mataboge stated. “Our priority is industrialisation — we must stop relying on imports and start building Africa’s transport systems ourselves.”
The AU’s strategy aligns with its long-term vision of creating a connected, skilled, and industrially self-sufficient continent through integrated infrastructure networks and shared expertise.
Mataboge highlighted the AU’s cross-lending model, which enables member states to share technical and artisanal expertise in sectors such as aviation, shipping, and rail transport.
“If Nigeria anchors skills in rail transport, and South Africa or Kenya anchors aviation, citizens from other African countries can train in those regions,” she explained. “It’s about real, practical integration — not just policy alignment but tangible skills and investment.”
According to her, Nigeria will play a key role in the ongoing continental maritime conversation, leveraging its position as one of Africa’s largest coastal economies.
The initiative is a key pillar of the AU’s Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) policy — a flagship program under Agenda 2063 designed to enhance intra-African air connectivity, promote local manufacturing, and create up to 500,000 new jobs across aviation and related infrastructure industries.
Analysts estimate that a fully implemented SAATM could contribute over $4.2 billion to Africa’s GDP annually through improved connectivity and operational efficiency.
“Aviation integration is critical because it remains difficult to travel within Africa. In many cases, you must leave the continent to reach another African country. That must change,” Mataboge said, emphasizing the urgency of improving intra-African air routes.
The AU’s infrastructure blueprint goes beyond aviation to include multi-modal transport systems — linking road, rail, maritime, and air networks to boost trade and mobility.
Mataboge noted that infrastructure construction, upgrading, and maintenance are themselves powerful job creators. The AU is prioritizing major projects such as the West African highway corridor, which will connect multiple countries and strengthen trade routes from Lagos to Abidjan.
She added that transport integration will also support Africa’s industrial base, enhancing production, logistics, and workforce training across all sectors.
The COVID-19 pandemic, Mataboge said, exposed the continent’s transportation vulnerabilities, especially in moving medical supplies and protective gear. The AU’s current push toward localised manufacturing and transport integration is designed to ensure that Africa can respond more effectively to future crises while creating sustainable economic opportunities.
“Starting from a low base gives us room for significant impact,” she noted. “Every kilometer of rail, every aircraft part, and every shipping vessel built in Africa represents new jobs, skills, and industries.”
The AU’s multi-sector approach — spanning aviation, shipping, and land transport — is expected to accelerate intra-African trade, reduce dependency on foreign technology, and establish Africa as a hub for global logistics and innovation.
By investing in African-made aircraft and shipping lines, the AU aims to create a sustainable ecosystem where infrastructure development directly drives employment, industrial capacity, and economic resilience across all member states.
