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.