Opportunities abound in Mozambique – Lalgy

Transport is helping to unlock the economic potential of Mozambique, says Junaide Lalgy, founder of Maputo-based Lalgy Transport. “Mozambique as a country is currently being rehabilitated, and projects are being established at an unprecedented rate by local companies, by government, by foreign companies (especially large internationals) and by donor agencies such as the World Bank and the United Nations,” says Lalgy. All these projects need transport services, and a large percentage of the work is outsourced. Lalgy, with its “in-depth knowledge of the market and the country” is able to provide transport and logistical support to the companies working on the projects. Lalgy also provides transport services to cargo owners based in the land-locked surrounding countries, and which rely on road to the ports of Maputo, Beira and Nacala because of the current state of the rail infrastructure. Founded in 1989, Lalgy has seen the benefits of the opening up of the South African economy after sanctions and the revival of the Mozambican economy since the end of the civil war. The breakthrough came in 2000 when the company’s fleet grew from 25 to 350 trucks and trailers. Today Lalgy operates a large fleet; It includes tippers, tankers, flat decks, low beds, and skeletal units. All vehicles are tracked live by satellite, and scheduling and planning is done through a centralised system. Web-based software enables the company to position vehicles optimally for contract work. Lalgy is able to allocate vehicles to be dedicated to long-term projects. The company has also diversified into the sale of trucks, parts and earth moving equipment.