KEVIN MAYHEW BIRKART GLOBISTICS (Air and Ocean) regards the southern African region – driven mainly through South Africa - as an important trade lane for its services. Part of the German-based THIEL Group, the company's European managing director, of air & ocean freight, Hauke Mueller, said the Group, which is currently represented by agents in other countries, would consider direct representation in more countries in sub-Saharan Africa. “We need the level of stability and progress to be consistent as it is in South Africa before committing ourselves to a direct presence, and we certainly have the confidence that South Africa will continue to provide an attractive destination for our activities,” he said. This was particularly true in the automotive sector where South Africa has proved itself and led the way to become a true player on the global stage. The company has been represented in South Africa for the past 30 years and has recently strengthened its local presence through the creation of Birkart Simesonke, a separate new company which is 51% black owned and 49% owned by Birkart Globistics. At the official launch of the new company, the chief executive officer of Birkart Globistics, Michael Villinger, reiterated that South Africa had been and would continue to be an important trade lane besides Asia and Europe. “We recognise that South Africa is showing tremendous growth in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is also reflected in the strong rand and confirms its dominant role as a gateway into Africa. “We invested in this joint venture to further participate in this positive development and to strengthen our presence in the country together with our existing subsidiary in South Africa. Our medium term intention is to grow in sub-Saharan Africa,” he told clients at the launch.
