First step in international
expansion plans
IN A milestone development, Sebenza Forwarding and Shipping Consultancy has gone international and opened an office in the United Kingdom, handling air and seafreight.
"It's a bold move forward, but we are too ambitious just to be confined to office operations in South Africa," says Sebenza chairman Peter-Paul Ngwenya. "It is an essential step to take if we want to be seen as a true international forwarder.
"We are also proud to be one of the first black empowerment companies to make this move which also ensures that all income in
foreign currency ends up in
South Africa."
This, says Ngwenya is a major reason for the decision to set up an own office rather than work through an overseas agent. "Much of the cargo from Europe is of a highly valuable nature, and Sebenza will therefore take full responsibility throughout its journey.
"We are currently searching for the right person to head the office, preferably a UK citizen with a sound knowledge of the South African market and way of business. But the operational staff
will be entirely South African," he says.
Although the UK is not necessarily Sebenza's biggest northern hemisphere market, it serves as a crucial link to Europe, he says. The company plans to open additional offices in Europe at a future date.
Agents have been appointed elsewhere as part of an international expansion programme. These include Hankyu Cargo, Japan's second largest forwarder and
Gulf Agency Company (GAC), which covers the entire Gulf and Asian areas.
Sebenza is also branching into Africa with own offices in Nigeria and Angola.
