Telecoms contract generates significant volumes for SDV

As the industry wakes up to the growing potential of Mozambique, logistics major SDV is reaping the benefits of years of investment in the country. “We’ve been in Mozambique for 80 years – although not always under the SDV name – and have built up our national network year by year,” regional managing director South Africa, Philippe Deneve, told FTW. The company currently has offices in Beira, Nacala, Maputo, Manica, Tete and Pemba and will shortly open another branch in Quelimane. “With our extensive network in Mozambique, we offer a comprehensive service that includes shipping, forwarding and supply chain specifically for the mining industry. “We are also confident of the growth of the oil and gas industries and believe we have the infrastructure and know-how to service this sector.” While Deneve welcomes infrastructure upgrades in the region, he believes there’s plenty of room for improvement. “Maputo has limited capacity and needs to invest. Extensions to the berth and yard have been scheduled and this will be positive for Gauteng shippers,” says Deneve. At Beira, the depth of the port is a problem. “But discussions are under way to dredge the port. And when Zimbabwe is back in business, Beira will be the port of choice.” While Nacala in the north is the best port in East Africa in terms of depth, the problem is the lack of inland infrastructure. It’s the reason why goods for Malawi are currently moving via Beira. But with plans under way to upgrade road and rail, the future outlook for the port is positive. As coal mining in the Tete region begins to show signs of growth, discussions are under way between the Mozambique and Malawi governments to build an extension of the railway line from Tete to Malawi. How long it will take is an open question, but the signs are looking positive, says Deneve. Aside from Mozambique, the company’s investments in the rest of the region are continuing apace. “We have put forward a provisional tender to build, manage and rehabilitate the Port of Sierra Leone. “We are also growing in Angola where we have opened our dry port in Luanda. Because of the slowdown, container terminals haven’t been congested in the past few months. But this is expected to change with new projects on the go and we are confident for the year ahead.” In Kenya the company has built an extension of its dry port in Mombasa. The recent signing of a contract with Chinese telecoms operator HUAWEI, which supplies equipment to telecoms operators in 15 countries in Africa, will generate volumes of door-to-door business for the company. “We are always very optimistic about Africa. We have been there for many years and with the opening of a branch in Egypt we will be present in 42 countries. “More than 20 years ago SDV’s strategy was to build a logistics network that would be ready when Africa started moving. For us it’s not new – for many of our competitors it is, and that makes the difference.”