Border post delays - challenge for African trade

Border post delays are the main challenge for companies expanding into Africa, according to the State of Logistics survey published by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 2008. “These findings are still true in 2009,” says David King, a researcher on the project at the CSIR. An increasing number of companies are expanding into Africa and are turning to third-party logistics providers to manage their logistics activities when operating across borders. All the companies researched used road transport as the main transport mode and border-post delays were identified as the biggest hurdle to conquer. The proposed solutions to these delays include standard electronic clearing systems, longer borderpost operating hours, bettertrained personnel and improved communication between key role players.