Abrao & Rushabh Launch A&R Africa to Boost India-Africa Trade

In a decisive move to reimagine cross-border logistics, Abrao Group, one of India’s most established maritime service providers, and Rushabh Sealink, a dynamic multimodal logistics player, today announced the launch of their joint venture A&R Africa — a future-ready logistics brand focused on strengthening the India–Africa–Middle East trade axis.

Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, A&R Africa is built to unlock trade corridors between emerging economies while promoting transparency, digital efficiency, and regional participation. With a strong operational presence now established in Djibouti, we are strategically positioned to serve key markets across Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, and South Sudan, A&R Africa is poised to bridge geographies that represent the next frontier in global commerce.

According to the Indian Ministry of Commerce, bilateral trade between India and Africa currently stands at USD 98 billion, with projections touching USD 200 billion by 2030. At the same time, East Africa’s export growth has surged 17% year-on-year, demanding modern, end-to-end logistics partnerships across the region.

To meet this demand, A&R Africa will offer full-stack logistics solutions, including:

Freight forwarding across sea, air, rail, and road

Bonded and free zone warehousing

Customs clearance and trade facilitation

Project logistics and military cargo handling

Ship agency services and container representation

Stock-and-sell support for Indian and global brands targeting African markets

With a strong operational presence in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, UAE, Yemen, India, and selected European hubs, A&R Africa is strategically positioned to unlock new trade routes and drive economic collaboration.

“Africa is not just the next frontier — it’s now. A&R Africa is born out of a strong belief that logistics is a key enabler of equitable growth. It is a 50:50 joint venture between Abrao Group and Rushabh Sealink. We’re bringing together our legacy of trust with a future-forward mindset,” said Mr George Abrao, Chairman, Abrao Group.

Mr Lenny Abrao, Managing Director of Abrao Group, added: “We are creating a brand that will stand independently but reflect the shared values of both Abrao and Rushabh. A&R Africa is built to deliver reliability, digital innovation, and regional empowerment — especially for ‘Made in Africa’ initiatives.”

 “At Rushabh Sealink, we’ve always believed in building solutions that are resilient, adaptive, and relevant to tomorrow’s trade. With A&R Africa, we’re combining our operational scale with localized insight to power the India–Africa–Middle East corridor,” said Mr Vishal Mehta, Director, Rushabh Sealink.

To strengthen its offering, A&R Africa is establishing a dual-entity structure:

A Free Zone Transit Entity managing multimodal cargo and bonded warehousing

A Mainland Company overseeing ship agency operations and port-side logistics

A&R Africa’s roadmap includes the launch of a proprietary digital logistics dashboard, AI-based routing, real-time tracking, and automated customs workflows. These tech-enabled features will drive visibility, reduce friction, and ensure full compliance with evolving trade regulations.

With a strong commitment to ESG, A&R Africa will embed sustainable warehousing practices, hire and upskill local African talent, and reduce paper dependency through digitization — creating logistics systems that are as inclusive as they are efficient.

As trilateral relations between India, Africa, and the Middle East deepen, A&R Africa aims to emerge as the preferred logistics partner for government agencies, large manufacturers, aid organizations, and regional trade players — delivering not just cargo, but long-term confidence.