Strong alliances keep problems to the minimum

With an estimated 30% growth in the past year, Alrodebased Aquarius Shipping International (ASI) has recently started exploring becoming a global entity, according to director, Robert Poverello. “We have already opened an office in the UK and a European office is next on the agenda,” he told FTW. “After 11 years in the industry we have established ourselves as a major player in the tobacco forwarding market and are now looking to further improve on our gains.” Focusing largely on the movement of tobacco from Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and SA, ASI believes reliability is the key when working in Africa. “Every shipment of a container is important, regardless of how many there are or where they are going,” said Poverello. “We are all hands-on and no-one here minds getting their hands dirty. It is all about high service levels, relationships and communication. We ensure we meet our deadlines.” It’s all part of the basic aim at ASI. “It has always been the philosophy to ensure that our customers’ needs are met through good relationships and trust,” Poverello added. He believes there are huge opportunities in Africa. “We have experience of dealing within the boundaries of Africa and yes, Africa will remain a challenge to everybody trading on the continent, but we manage to keep problem areas to a minimum by forging strong alliances in the various countries in which we work.”