Gabcon invests millions in new equipment

It is not business as usual at the Gaborone Container Terminal (Gabcon) where a brand new strategy is paving the way for things to come. According to Modiri Ntuane, sales and marketing manager, a recent strategy meeting saw the company come up with its new lucky vision number “157” that encompasses everything it wants to achieve. “The number stands for the seven strategic objectives on which we will be focusing until 2015,” he explained to FTW. “And these key strategic objectives are: our employees, our customers, our processes, our growth, our strategic partners, our company image and our financial performance. “These are big dreams but we believe they are achievable through hard work, dedication and commitment,” said Ntuane. “Our vision is to be the leading integrated logistics provider and container hub in the region.” During the past two years the company has invested in container handling equipment and trucks to the value of about BWP8 million (R8.65m) in response to the ever-growing demand. “This year we are investing in more equipment, including a reach stacker and container side lifters, trailers and trucks to the tune of BWP7.8 million (R8.47m). “We are very positive about the future of rail in the country as the confidence of people in this particular mode of transport is growing. We are now dispatching daily trains (container trains with 40-45 wagons) to Durban and receiving between five and seven trains a week from Durban.” Ntuane said while there was still a preference for road, rail was making a comeback as people gradually realised the cost benefit, despite the longer transit times.