Border offices a big advantage for Africa-bound business

The projects division of Ziegler South Africa has harvested strong numbers since the company’s entry into the SA market in May this year, and project specialist Sean Moore expects more of the same for the year ahead. It’s a sector where expertise and know-how are the defining ingredients – and at Ziegler they’re in abundant supply, says Moore. “We have a committed projects division in Antwerp and committed project specialists in Mumbai and Hong Kong and we have our own local project specialist Cindy Luyt, based at our Durban office.” And specialist expertise is critical in overcoming the challenges faced – particularly on the African continent. The company is currently involved in a concentrated solar project in the Western Cape that involves large volumes from a vast number of origins – a lot of it outsize cargo up to 35m long and weighing up to 200 tons a piece. The biggest challenge, says Moore, is inadequate infrastructure at the Port of Cape Town. It’s the sensible port of discharge but practically it can’t handle the volumes because it has no lay-down areas. And while Saldanha would be better equipped infrastructurally, vessels are reluctant to call at the port. “We are looking at Port Elizabeth or Durban as options – and these are the kind of issues that need to be resolved on a daily basis.” The upliftment of previously disadvantaged communities is at the heart of another project in which Ziegler SA is currently involved. “We will be ensuring that they are provided with water and sewerage through ductile iron pipelines that are being manufactured to internationally accepted standards and then imported into South Africa through all of the major ports,” said Moore. The company is also involved in the movement of a massive boiler from Mumbai to Beira. “We can’t get it directly into Beira because a lot of the lines consider the African east coast high risk due to piracy – and there’s also a steep additional cost if you force inducement at one of these ports. The solution has been to bring it into Durban and roadhaul it to Beira at a cost of R500 000 – which is cheaper than inducing.” It’s all part and parcel of doing business in Africa – where Ziegler’s border offices at Groblersbrug and Beitbridge provide a strong marketing advantage, says Moore. CAPTION Sean Moore … strong central buying department in Europe.