An increase in
the number of
direct calls on
East African
ports is helping to boost
trade between the region
and the rest of the
world – including South
Africa, according to Peter
Schmidt-Löff ler, chief
executive officer of the
CFR Freight group of
companies.
On the back of this
growing trade, neutral
groupage operator CFR is
providing direct services
to all major East African
ports.
“We offer regular
direct services to
Maputo servicing
all destinations in
Mozambique such as
Beira, Nacala and
Pemba.
“But with
business in
Mozambique on
the rise, we
are preparing
to introduce
direct services
to all of these
ports,” he told
FTW.
Dar es
Salaam
and Mombasa
are served on a
direct, weekly
basis,
servicing the African
Lakes region of
Uganda, Rwanda
and Burundi, he
added.
“The Indian Ocean
Islands also fall under
this part of the African
continent and are
serviced through our
weekly direct service to
Port Louis, with feeders
to Madagascar, the
Seychelles, Reunion Island
and the Comores,” he said.
And while East Africa
is well covered from South
African ports, it is also
served out of a number of
hubs around the world,” said
Schmidt-Löffler.
“Freight forwarders
around the globe can either
book to all East African
destinations through our
global platform and network,
The WorldWide Alliance, or
through our South African
set up.
“Our partner in Hamburg,
SACO Shipping, part of the
WorldWide Alliance, offers
regular direct services from
Europe to Africa.
“With their weekly
departures we can service the
entire east coast of Africa –
the likes of Djibouti, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Somalia, Egypt,
Sudan and South Sudan.”
A key element of the
company’s value proposition
is its total neutrality, says
Schmidt-Löffler. “And that
includes our airfreight and
warehousing products as well.
“Our clients, the freight forwarding
and clearing agents,
have a tough task in the current
economic climate.
“We do whatever it takes to
assist them as partners and
not competitors,” he said.
INSERT & CAPTION
While East Africa is
well covered from
South African ports,
it is also served out
of a number of hubs
around the world.
– Peter Schmidt-Löffler
