Direct calls help boost East Africa trade

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