Containerised cargo remains the most cost-effective way of moving goods in Southern Africa, says Gerhard van Zyl, director of Professional International. The company specialises in a range of risk and asset management services focusing on warehousing, distribution, aviation and cargo security. “The infrastructure is still very limited as far as other modes are concerned,” he told FTW. More so, containers also offered the best security at present for cargo being transported across borders. “Infrastructure is possibly the biggest challenge facing the logistics industry in the region as it remains under huge strain, especially when considering the increase in the movement of containers,” he said. “Also, elements such as corruption and bribery play a role.” It was therefore all about remaining cost effective while at the same time adding value to cargo owners. “There is a lot of development in Botswana, thanks to new mining projects taking off. As we gear up for this mining uptake we do expect to see containerised cargo volumes increase.” Van Zyl said technology was increasingly impacting on the industry and logistics companies were under pressure to remain at the forefront of developments to stay ahead of the game. “We foresee that the biggest opportunities in the container business will be in streamlining the multimodal movements of cargo,” said Van Zyl. The biggest opportunities in the container business will be in streamlining the multimodal movements of cargo. – Gerhard van Zyl
