New sales team focuses on Africa

MARK JACKSON-MOSS THE GROWING service demands of clients in the logistics industry have seen many companies diversifying their services in an attempt to remain competitive, but a lack of logistics experience in Gauteng is hampering growth in the freight industry. Gauteng is suffering an “experience shortage, with too little new blood entering the industry,” says newlyappointed general manager of Expolanka Freight South Africa, Dilrukshan Gunaratne. Despite this, Expolanka Freight has hired a new sales team to focus on Africa, with Gauteng seen as the platform for expansion into the region. “Zambia and Nigeria are the latest Expolanka branch offices to be opened on the continent,” adds Gunaratne. Expolanka SA has extended its national network since its launch in SA four years ago, opening up offices in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in the past year. “The industry is continually looking at acquiring new accounts, however some companies tend to over-shift focus on these new accounts to the detriment of existing customers,” added sales manager Kirsten Naidoo. “Expolanka is completely customer orientated, and values its customers existing and new.” The company is expanding operations into Africa using the services of its extensive branch network of 10 offices spanning East, West and Southern Africa. They will each focus on project cargo, raw materials and abnormal loads to meet the growing demands of clients seeking globally competitive standards and services.