Services provided by the world’s largest consolidation provider are helping to connect Zambian importers and exporters to the rest of the world.
Zambian and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) companies working on leaner inventories in order to save finance fees and allow them more flexibility in the market are making greater use of consolidation services, according to Yvonne Palm, managing director of ECU Worldwide South Africa.
The company has a presence in 49 African states, including Zambia and all its neighbours. Freight to and from Zambia and the DRC is routed through Mombasa, Nairobi, Durban, Johannesburg or Port Elizabeth.
Palm says specialised project management and less than container load services are needed to support the re-industrialisation of Zambia.
“While we work with the larger companies as well, we have an in-depth understanding of the needs of small to medium companies,” says sales director Deleon van Rooyen.
“Our southern African head office is situated in Port Elizabeth, where the economy is dominated by small to medium largely family-owned companies,” he says.
Palm says the company has had some “remarkable results” when partnering with Eastern Cape companies to penetrate new export markets.
The same expertise and support is available to companies operating in Zambia and the DRC. “We are also focusing on intra-African trade. There are huge opportunities for cross-border trade.”
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We are also focusing on intra-African trade. – Yvonne Palm
