Dachser will continue to
expand its presence in
Africa, working with reliable
partners strategically positioned
across the continent, according
to CEO Bernhard Simon.
Speaking to FTW during a
recent visit to South Africa,
Simon reiterated the logistics
service provider’s commitment
to the continent, saying there
were many opportunities
despite the economic slowdown.
“We don’t just invest in boom
times,” he said. “We take a longterm
approach, much as we did
in South Africa, and build our
footprint accordingly. We have
high hopes pinned on Africa.”
He said while the company
still saw itself as a relatively
small player in Africa, the goal
was to be well established in the
various markets as and when
the tide turned.
Simon said the company
had invested heavily in areas
such as Morocco and Tunisia
where there was real growth –
in the region of
20% and more.
He told FTW that, despite
the drop in commodity prices,
there was still fast-growing
demand for the commodities
available on the African
continent, while the retail
and manufacturing sectors
were gaining ground. This, he
said, offered good prospects
to logistics companies such as
Dachser.
“There is no denying
that there are challenges in
operating in Africa,” he said.
“This, however, should not
deter one from investing in the
continent and establishing a
strong foothold.”
Detlev Duve, managing
director of Dachser South
Africa, agreed, saying logistics
strategists could not afford to
ignore the African market of
the future. “We bring a global
network to Africa while also
understanding the complexities
and unique challenges that
come with logistics on the
continent.”
He said the company took
an “innovative” approach to
logistics, allowing it to deliver
the tailor-made solutions
that African operators often
required.
According to Simon, it
is integral that the same
streamlined processes that are
delivered by Dachser within
very specific timeframes in the
developed world are replicated
in the complex African
environment.
“We apply the same core
values and principles no matter
where we operate in the world,”
he said. “We have invested in
appointing the right people
for our African operations
to ensure we are delivering a
service of value that ensures an
unbreakable chain from start
to finish. Training and skills
development are important
aspects of this and we continue
to invest heavily in these
departments.”
INSERT & CAPTION
Bernhard Simon, Dachser CEO, and Detlev Duve, managing director of Dachser
South Africa.
Logistics major continues on growth path
0 Comments
