Africa desk provides one-stop information shop

Comparative costings help provide the edge JOY ORLEK MARKET KNOWLEDGE is one of the greatest assets for trade into Africa, and that extends far beyond the basics of transport and documentation. “It’s a minefield, and every country is a challenge on its own,” says ZA Trans export manager Grant Palmer, “which is why we established an Africa desk 18 months ago to provide our customers with a single entry point for comprehensive regional information. “Our country portfolios are carefully researched, covering a range of information from infrastructure limitations, customs legislation and Reserve Bank requirements to comparative transport options. The information is available in printed formal, updated to keep pace with the constant changes in Africa, and is provided to the company’s committed business partners. “It’s all about risk management and you need to be well informed to make prudent and informed choices.” But the Africa desk, headed up by seasoned Africa specialist Gina Oliphant, is not only about manuals and information for local shippers. It also handles cross-trade. “We control shipments in South Africa from anywhere in the world into Africa, without the shipments touching South African soil.” ZA Trans has extended its footprint across most of Africa, with special focus on Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, DRC and Tanzania. “We choose our service providers carefully to ensure measurable consistency, thereby offering superior, personalised service to our customers," says Palmer, who lists infrastructure and legislation as two of the major issues. “Another big hindrance is the limited airfreight capacity into Africa.” But finding the most effective routing is part of the challenge and a full time estimator ensures that customers can weigh up their mode of transport versus time options with the benefit of comparative costings. For the future, Palmer is optimistic. “After just ten years in business ZA Trans has been voted one of the top 300 companies in South Africa, and with our official incorporation into Barloworld Logistics on June 1, there are exciting times ahead.”