TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Merpati Nusantara Airlines plans to expand its business to the African continent. The company will collaborate with companies from the United States, The Sandi Group (TSG) Holdings.

The two companies will work with several airlines in Africa, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to establish an Indonesia-Africa cargo transportation route.

The scope of cooperation between the two companies will also cover maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), as well as training center.

Merpati Airlines president director Asep Ekanugraha said the company is seeing business potentials in Africa. Even though Merpati is still in the restructuring process, the state-owned carrier has two subsidiaries that can contribute to Congo.

"The possibility is not only in one place, but we can develop in three African countries," he said in Jakarta, Wednesday, January 22.

In addition to Merpati, TSG Global Holdings with PT TSG Utama Indonesia and Titan Global Capital Pte Ltd are also working with nine other Indonesian companies that are tapping into Congo's market.

This collaboration is a follow-up to the 2018 Indonesia Africa Forum (IAF) activities and the 2019 Asia Africa Infrastructure Dialogue which took place in Bali.

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