Investment in rail and other
Zambian infrastructure will
power the economy through
its current challenges, believes
Hiten Bhagat, general manager
of Hill & Delamain Zambia.
“The economy is expanding.
We can see it in the growing
volumes of traffic we are
handling,” he says.
Hill & Delamain Zambia
provides full end-to-end sea,
air, road and rail services for the
movement of cargo into and out
of Zambia.
It provides supply chain
management for cargo ranging
from fast moving consumer
goods to bulk chemicals.
Bhagat welcomes the
investment by the Zambian
government in the rail
infrastructure.
The government “is pushing
hard on rail,” and as a company
Hill & Delamain is monitoring
developments carefully in order
to ensure that it is able to help
its clients to take advantage of
the revived infrastructure, he
says.
“There are still challenges
with rolling stock, but we are
starting to see the benefits of
rail being back on track,” he told
FTW.
Lower transport costs and
greater efficiencies for bulk
commodities and containers
will support economic growth
in Zambia and neighbouring
countries, he believes.
Rail is being supported by the
upgrading of roads throughout
Zambia.
“It is exciting to see the
amount of money being
invested in logistics-related
infrastructure. The government
clearly realises the vital role
played by logistics in the
economy,” he says.
Infrastructure
investment over the past
decade or so is already
paying off.
Whereas in
1992 Zambia
was totally
reliant on Dar es Salaam as a
port gateway, shippers can now
choose between a number
of ports – including
Durban, Beira, and
Walvis Bay.
INSERT & CAPTION
Rail is being supported
by the upgrading of roads
throughout Zambia.
– Hiten Bhagat
