‘A first-class US partner is crucial’

LEONARD NEILL IF YOU intend working with Agoa, make sure you’re linked to a highly regarded US operator. In addition send your staff across to them on a regular basis to learn the requirements of the agreement first hand and absorb the many on-going changes. “That is why we developed a partnership with BDP International in Philadelphia 18 months ago. It’s proved the best step we could have made,” says Steve Platt, director of international forwarder SAEL. “They are the largest privately-owned logistics company in the US, and having just returned from a global conference they hosted in Dubai, it is obvious they are committee to southern African affairs.” BDP is regularly approached by the US customs authority to run pilot systems on its behalf. These are undertaken on BDP’s Xpedion Global System, which conforms to US regulatory compliance requirements, says Platt. “We also work closely with the South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) office in New York which enables us to provide up-to-the-minute answers to what US clients require. “Our staff in this country are trained regularly on Agoa requirements. It makes them realise what a great win this agreement is for South African exporters. “In addition we have the capability to provide tailor-made solutions for all products exported by sea or air.”