Logistics major records 200% growth in six months

after setting up business in Johannesburg, global transport and logistics major, DSV has seen growth exceeding 200%. According to DSV South Africa CEO, Giovanni Bonavera, this is far beyond expectations. “In four months we have experienced tremendous growth. The major investment we made is already showing results much sooner than what we expected.” Whilst DSV has had operations in South Africa for several years via agents, the decision was made to enter the country as its own entity in 2010 with trade officially starting on December 1 last year. Since then they have opened an office at OR Tambo International Airport as well as Port Elizabeth, aimed at servicing their clients in the automotive industry. Having taken over the operations of Transmedit Forwarding, DSV has put a lot of effort and money into the South African operation, employing more staff and expanding the existing operations of Transmedit Forwarding. “Our strategy from the beginning has been to expand our operations and therefore a major investment was made. We are happy to see it already paying off. “As a multi national company it is important that we have a global reach and it was therefore a natural development to open an office in South Africa, which is the gateway into Africa,” said Bonavera. “It is a very good hub from where we can expand our business, especially project cargo for import and export into southern Africa.” Sandro Buffo, regional general manager of DSV Saima Avandero in Italy, says South Africa is an important market for the company. “It is a productive and industrialised economy that at the same time exhibits many characteristics associated with developing countries. It is a market that any globally competitive company must be active in.” As one of the top five logistics companies in the world, the move to Africa has strengthened the global network of the company, said Allesandro Travi. “It is very important in our business to be competitive and this move has played a major role in giving us a footprint in Africa from where we plan to expand even more.”