With some mega projects
on the horizon in the
SADC region, cross-border
business prospects are looking
good for 2015, according to
Hashim Ismail, CEO of Semwat
Transport.
The company has a wide
footprint in Africa and works
extensively across the borders –
be it the delivery of ambulances
to Zambia, structural housing
to Mozambique, chicken coops
to Zimbabwe, steel pipe sections
to Botswana
or just general
equipment to
the DRC.
And while
cargo from
South Africa
into the SADC
region has
always been
the mainstay,
he says there’s
a new trend
unfolding –
return trips
with cargo for
import into South Africa.
“There has been remarkable
growth in the economies of
countries such as Zambia over
the past few years and we are
starting to see the effect of
this in the transport business,”
said Ismail. “A product like
sugar is being brought back
into South Africa from Zambia
for domestic use and even for
export to Europe and other
countries. We are seeing the
Zambian export market grow.
At present total national
exports are earning around
$45m in profit for the country.
In season at Mazibuko Sugar
Estate there are more than 10
trucks loading export product
per day – all of which is good
news not only for these SADC
countries but for the logistics
industry at large.”
In Zambia the GDP in 2001
was just over $4billion. Four
years later in 2005 it had more
than doubled
to $8 billion,
and by 2013
it had more
than tripled
to $26 billion.
But, said
Ismail,
a major
concern was
still border
delays.
“Cross-border
facilities
have not
kept up with
the massive increase in
f leet activity over the past
years. Factors such as the
lack of standardisation of
documentation between
borders, lack of integrated
documentation systems, little
to no incremental investment
in facilities, little upskilling
of staff, and an insufficient
number of officials, impact on
the efficiency of most border
posts in the region.”
INSERT & CAPTION
In season at Mazibuko Sugar
Estate there are more than
10 trucks loading export
product per day.
– Hashim Ismail
