M&S Logistics has identified the Middle East as a growth market and will be ”aggressively” developing business in and out of the region said the company’s managing director Africa, India & Middle East, Kreason Pillay. “From a chemical perspective there are huge opportunities from the Middle East to the rest of the world as some of the major chemical companies are setting up plants in the region,” he told FTW. Pillay noted that trade between Africa and the Middle East in general was picking up, with East and West Africa currently forerunners of increased trade with the region. “There are more shipping lines calling the Middle East from Africa which is opening up trade lanes and, of course, more opportunities for us to do business,” he said. M&S is very involved in the oil and gas sector in West and East Africa, he added. “We are affiliated to many of the large suppliers and forwarding agents within the region, including those specialising in oil and gas movement. “Importers and exporters of bulk liquids are switching from drums to ISO tanks in order to meet growing demand,” Pillay said, adding that ISO tanks were preferable to other means of liquid transport. “They are safe, reliable, can be used for storage and are truly multimodal – the containers can be transported by sea, road and rail.” One of the biggest obstacles to doing business in the Middle East is the lengthy customs processes in Saudi Arabia. It's one of the specific countries that require additional mandatory verifications such as a Conformity Assessment Programme (CAP), which is a standard set by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in November 2013 for all products exported to the country. Pillay noted that the issues around delays were being addressed via the specific forums. INSERT & CAPTION From a chemical perspective there are huge opportunities from the Middle East to the rest of the world.” – Kreason Pillay
