Building capacity to prepare for future growth

Companies that are in

Mozambique for the

long haul are using

the current downturn

as an opportunity to invest and

build up their capacity.

“We are continuing to invest

during the downturn so that we

are able to help our customers

when the market turns. Our

official position is that we

are open for

business 24

hours a day,

whatever

the trading

conditions,”

says Paulo Faia

of AMI Africa

Mozambique.

AMI International has

a strong focus on Africa,

according to Faia.

The company’s Mozambican

office was opened in April

2009. It specialises in ships’

agency and logistics services,

and serves Malawi, Zimbabwe,

Zambia and the Democratic

Republic of Congo.

Through Mozambique, AMI

is able to link exporters and

importers in the region to the

Middle East, Pakistan, India

and China, as well as a growing

number

of African

countries.

The

Mozambican

office has

experienced

“roller coaster”

growth over the past few years.

“In 2015 we handled over

3 600 TEUs and are on track to

do better than that this year,”

says Faia.

In order to control costs,

the Mozambique company has

invested in its own f leet of 32

trucks with modern trailers

Operations in the group are

split across four companies,

offering transport, clearing and

forwarding, stevedoring and

terminal operations.

Some US$10 million is being

invested in a new warehouse,

which will be one of the biggest

in Beira.

“It will be able to store 35 000

tons of fertiliser – which is two

vessels at a time,” he says.

INSERT

$10m The investment in a

new warehouse in Beira.