Safmarine plans to extend intra-Africa network

More supply chain solutions will be offered Ray Smuts LARS RENO Jakobsen is under no illusion that remaining an overall market leader in 2003 will entail going the extra mile by providing innovative options and solutions to the sea and land customer base. The managing director of Safmarine with responsibility for A.P. Moller container-related activities in Africa, Reno says in his preview for the year ahead that while 2002 was exciting for transportation in southern Africa expectations are that this year will be no less exhilarating. “To maintain our overall market leadership we will continue to focus on our customer needs at sea and on land.” Reno says an even greater choice of supply chain solutions will be on offer to the customer base, source-to-shelf solutions to the agricultural sector by way of example. “We will continue adapting to the ever-changing needs of the major car manufacturers and their partners, meet the service delivery demands of our commodities and retail clients, and provide secure, competent through-transport for our customers in the freight forwarding, chemicals, minerals and energy sectors. “We aim to provide new local options to our customers and differentiated value-added services, for example an expanded intra-Africa network in line with the government’s NEPAD initiative which we wish to support.” Reno says the A.P. Moller Group will continue joint initiatives with its South African customers. It will continue with its ‘Containers in the Community’ programme, providing infrastructure support for the country’s previously disadvantaged groups, and eagerly anticipates the opening of the A.P. Moller Foundation-sponsored South African Maritime Training Academy (SAMTRA) at Simon’s Town where future cadets will be trained in service excellence.