Integrated company focuses on Africa network

WHILE IT is listed as Aramex in the 2003 IATA Top 30, the R15.9-million turnover which grabbed the agent 28th place would now be recorded in the books of African Express (AfEx). This, said AfEx executive operations manager Chris Vermeulen, as a result of the integration of the two companies which was completed last month. Transport company Unitrans owned Aramex and had 50% shareholding in the African Express in SA – with the first handling courier and freight of imports and exports, while African Express handled courier, airfreight and road transport business. “But,” said Vermeulen, “Unitrans decided to put everything under one umbrella, and both companies are now trading under the African Express banner.” The combined entity is now offering import and export airfreight, seafreight in and out, courier operations and a specialised road express service between SA and the BLNS countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. “In this,” said Vermeulen, “we are tying together a regional transport infrastructure and a fully-developed international network serving our global operations.” More than 200 people are employed in nine branches in Botswana, SA and Swaziland. The company’s objective, according to Vermeulen, is to set up operations in 14 African countries, including most of the SADC countries, within the next 24-months.