WBCG plans to open in Netherlands next year

The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) has set its sights on an office in the Netherlands as it continues to grow its global footprint. According to Johny Smith, CEO of the WBCG, the process is already under way to open an office in the country early in 2013. “We are hoping that it will be a New Year’s gift to ourselves,” he said at the African Port Evolution Forum in Cape Town last week. Earlier this year the WBCG opened offices in Brazil. “This is one connection that we are very optimistic about. Shipping time from Brazil to Walvis Bay is only seven days. There are major opportunities to develop this partnership and to establish it as a fast gateway for goods into Gauteng.” He said an office was also opened in Lubumbashi in the DRC in June. “We are seeing our business growing in that area and we are optimistic about the bigger role we are starting to play in southern Africa.” Smith said massive challenges still existed including long border transit times and a lack of infrastructure development despite the many investments that have already been made. “By extending our presence locally and abroad we are setting the stage for the world to take notice of the role that Walvis Bay, the port and the corridors can play in southern Africa,” he said. “In that regard Namibia continues to invest heavily in transport and port infrastructure to ensure that we are in a position to handle the capacity we are chasing around the globe.” CAPTION Johny Smith … ‘Shipping time from Brazil to Walvis Bay is only seven days.’