New services offer improved connectivity

Zambia’s connectivity to the rest of the world has been strengthened through the recent addition of two new CMA CGM/Delmas services, according to Syreeta Chitengi, general manager of CMA CGM Zambia. “A direct call on Maputo eastbound provides customers with a service linking Zambia via Mozambique and the Far East offering a short transit time. The first call for this service was in mid May. “A new MIDAS call on Durban from (July) this month offers customers direct access from India and Middle East Gulf to Durban and on carriage to Zambia, with the most competitive transit time in the market,” she says. According to Chitengi, the addition of new services is a ref lection of growing demand into and out of Zambia. “We have grown and continue to grow our business in Zambia and we have achieved great results all round in both import and export shipping services,” she says. CMA CGM Zambia “takes care of both the ocean and land needs of our customers, allowing them to focus on their core business and let us worry about their shipping and logistics needs”. She warns shippers to beware of hidden costs. “There is a misconception sometimes in the market that the endto- end through bill of lading product is more expensive than separating the ocean transport and contracting another entity to handle the inland trucking. “What many cargo owners do not realise is the potential of hidden costs in the event that this does not go smoothly. These can easily outweigh any intended savings. My advice is for the customer to always make an informed choice by getting quotations for both services and reading the fine print.” The value of good service should also not be ignored: “This year the CMA CGM Group clocks 35 years in shipping and logistics services, and both our past and future success is underpinned by providing customer-focused solutions," she says. INSERT 35 The number of years the CMA CGM Group has been serving the industry. INSERT & CAPTION The addition of new services is a reflection of growing demand into and out of Zambia. – Syreeta Chitengi