Neutral operator celebrates 20 years

International Liner Agencies (ILA) celebrates its 20th anniversary this year – and that includes 20 years of its first route from Italy and its 20-year partnership with the Italianbased General Export SRL. “We have been committed to the Italian trade since inception and that commitment has paid off,” said ILA sales director Kevin Taylor. “We now offer a weekly service from Durban and Cape Town (via Johannesburg) to four terminals in Italy,” he said. General Export’s Chiara Paoli told FTW during her recent annual visit to South Africa that the sailings to all four Italian destinations – Milan, Vincenza, Bologna and Livorno – allowed Italian forwarders to make a “considerable saving” on the cost of inland transportation. “Furthermore, the rates are the same from each terminal, which results in more savings,” she said. Exports out of Italy have decreased across the globe, according to Paoli. “The Italian products are high-end and with the world economy still struggling to recover, the bespoke goods compete with cheaper, more mainstream products out of China and India,” Paoli noted. However, the Italian government is pulling out all the stops to promote its goods, particularly shoes and leather goods as well as food exports, she added. Machinery and electronic goods out of Italy are also in high demand from southern African importers. Taylor told FTW that the direct sailings to four terminals and the all-inclusive freight rate gave both ILA and General Export the edge in an increasingly competitive industry. “Furthermore, our solid partnership is based on the same business principles and we have aligned our longterm strategies so we look forward to another 20 years of growth,” he said. ILA sales manager and Italian trade manager, Lee Horrocks, added: “Both parties are also strictly committed to true neutrality, not just in our branding but in our implementation." CAPTION Kevin Taylor, Chiara Paoli and Lee Horrocks… celebrating 20 years.