ILA plans to double weekly India service

Plans are in place to double the weekly service offered by International Liner Agencies (ILA) between the Port of Durban and the Indian port of Nhava Sheva “within the next month or two”. This comes just three months after the South African-based groupage operator signed a sole partnership deal with Vanguard Logistics Services (VLS) on the Indian subcontinent. “We have seen very good growth in trade between the countries since we signed the deal and are confident that we will meet our objectives of doubling the business within the next six months,” said VLS Indian subcontinent director, Jitendra Vijan, speaking to FTW on his first visit to the ILA offices in South Africa last week. He noted that with India achieving political stability after the elections in May this year – with one ruling party, Bharatiya Janata Party, achieving the majority votes – global trade was swinging in India’s favour. Some of the economic reforms include allowing private foreign direct investment in the country and an easing of trade restrictions, said Viljan. “The timing of our partnership with ILA is therefore optimal to grow business between the two countries, especially with South Africa needing to find alternative source markets within a global trade shift,” he commented. Viljan added that there had been high-level government meetings between the two countries to boost bilateral trade which had given impetus to the partnership with ILA. Sales and marketing director for ILA, Raymond Cutts, said that the partnership with VLS India had expanded the group’s extensive base in Asia and linked well with the VLS China partnership, which opens market access for ILA’s customers. “In turn, our established transport networks into Africa – all inland destinations and East and West Africa sailings – provide the springboard for VLS India to meet its objective of expanding into Africa.” CAPTION Partners … Raymond Cutts, Jitendra Viljan and ILA MD, Rod Taylor.