'Going Dutch means collaborating to cut logistics costs

The Netherlands is working
hard to reclaim its spot at
the top of the world logistics
chart after dropping to third in
Europe and fifth in the world.
David de Waal, consul
general of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, said a programme
had been launched aimed
at developing a high quality
logistical network in which
goods flow to and from the
Netherlands in a sustainable,
dependable, fast, punctual,
efficient and cheap way.
“This is all aimed at
reaching that number one spot
on the World Logistics Index,”
he said at last week’s Transport
Forum in Stellenbosch. “But
also because we consider
logistics to be important. This
sector contributes some 7.5%
to our annual GDP and is
responsible for more than
750 000 jobs.”
According to De Waal, the
target is to see a 50% increase
in specially trained logistics
personnel in the coming years,
while the contribution of
supply chain services to the
GDP will also be significantly
increased.
“In this regard we have
designed what we call our
triple Helix co-operation – a
golden triangle that requires co
operation between business,
government and knowledge
institutes to bring about the
changes we are looking for.”
He said there were without
doubt challenges – ranging
from road congestion to rising
energy prices, while the need
for innovation was key.
The idea is to look at
the supply chain in a new
way, he said, encouraging
collaboration.
“We want to put companies
in touch with each other
that would not necessarily
otherwise meet and allow
them to collaborate to reduce
costs. This way a Phillips can
now pack their lighting pallets
on top of the long and heavy
packages of a Hunter Douglas
that makes aluminium
cladding for instance. It
is about approaching our
logistics in a new and
innovative way.”