A joint venture between
FT Global Logistics and
Speedlink Cargo of Zambia
will benefit Zambian shippers,
according to Hilton Tait, chief
executive officer of FT Global
Logistics.
“Speedlink is a wellestablished
company with a
22-year history and a presence in
South Africa.
“The joint
venture has
helped fast-track
the entry of FT
Global Logistics
into the market,
while clients
benefit from the
economies
of
scale,” said Tait. “Volumes
have grown quickly to three
consolidated loads a week out of
Gauteng to Zimbabwe.
While this JV is aimed at the
Zimbabwean route, the extensive
marketing on the route has
had significant spin-off
business on other export
routes,” he added.
“We have canvassed
over 100 South
African export
clients in the past two months.
In addition to new Zimbabwean
business, we have also secured
road and air freight traffic on the
Zambian route.
“Volumes to Zambia are
growing, as many exporters with
goods bound for Zimbabwe also
have regular traffic to Zambia.
“We are now looking at a
similar arrangement on the
Zambian trade route,” he says.
FT Global Logistics established
a presence in Zambia primarily to
support the activities of the First
Tech Group of which it is part.
These include Flint
Construction, which designs and
builds rail infrastructure mainly
for the mining industries.
The group also exports large
volumes of HDPE piping to
Northern Zambia, as well as
lighting products and electrical
components to appointed agents
in Lusaka.
“We now have a base from
which to operate and the new
business means we are now able
to generate our own consolidation
and full load rates for markets in
Zambia,” says Tait.
INSERT & CAPTION
Volumes to Zambia are
growing, as many exporters
with goods bound for
Zimbabwe also have regular
traffic to Zambia.
– Hilton Tait
