Customs expertise adds muscle to Manica offering Extensive regional infrastructure

Alan Peat WHILE AFRICA is marginalised in international trading, it is a major global player in minerals and metals, according to Guy Hancock, executive commercial services at Manica Africa. “The renewed interest in Africa’s mineral and metal deposits, driven by the contentious global commodity bull market, is a reminder of this,” he said. Contentious because the commodity boom is a hot debate at present - and opinions vary about the fate of the commodity markets in the face of an appreciating dollar. “But investor trends in Africa tell a story of their own,” said Hancock. “The most apparent evidence is to be found where the richest mineral deposits lie - Zambia and DRC. But this is not an isolated trend, and is also evident in Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania.” This market confidence is being translated into widespread prospecting, refurbishment and re-opening - all backed with international finance. “Therefore,” said Hancock, “Africa is again becoming the venue for capital mining projects.” This confidence in continued growth requires an integrated freight solution - and, in turn, is driving project management in Africa to new heights, he added. “In an African context, it is a demanding undertaking and requires an experienced understanding of the operating contexts, the objectives and a holistic service all the way to the project’s destination.” To achieve this strategic positioning, a logistics company involved in projects management has to have a combination of specialist knowledge and experience - and extensive representation throughout southern Africa. “Testimony that Manica has reached this goal,” said Hancock, “is a track record that ranges from the Harare International Airport, World Bank road projects and the Chambishi smelter in Zambia, to the Selema rail project in Malawi.” Extensive project management experience in southern Africa provides Manica with competitive advantage, he added. “One key aspect of our service offering is our skill in managing exemptions and duty free applications,” Hancock said, “and providing a top quality customs clearance service. “We are able to achieve this by drawing on our formalised relationships with the various revenue authorities.” An extensive regional infrastructure - including the recent addition of a further warehouse in Lubumbashi and representation in Dar Es Salaam - also gives Manica a major market footprint in southern Africa, he said.