West Africa potential beckons

RAY SMUTS
LOOK no further than West Africa to capitalise on hugely lucrative opportunities in gas and oil, and Safcor Panalpina has been quick out of the starting blocks to achieve just that.
Sales and marketing director Bruce Thoresson says much stands to be gained especially if one were to take into account Cape Town's proximity to the west coast of Africa.
"We have skills that can add value to a particular industry like oil and gas and the capability of putting together an exceptional supply chain for the region," he says, adding that Safcor Panalpina very much aligns itself with the Port of Cape Town's quest to establish itself as an oil and gas hub of international substance.
The Panalpina network is already well established in Africa "so it's a logical extension to serve the west coast out of Cape Town as a Safcor Panalpina component," says Thoresson.
Safcor Panalpina's focus on oil and gas has not come about overnight as it created a national portfolio - that of business development manager - about 18 months ago, appointing Helena Ranshaw who cut her teeth in the oil business while with Panalpina in Houston, Texas.
Cape regional director Steve Goslett says his seafreight division has already begun moving a variety of goods including rubber materials, chemicals and rig equipment, mostly to Angola and Nigeria.
"We are continuously receiving requests for information about west Africa so we believe Cape Town will become the hub and gateway for supply of product into Africa.
"At the present time our exports into west Africa probably account for some 12% of the Cape Town branch's total business, but oil and gas supply is still very much in the early stages and we wish to increase that sector of business significantly."
Significant developments in Cape Town have been the purchase of Safcor Panalpina's own airfreight premises at Airport Industria
(1 000m2 including bonded facilities) and the addition of at least 100 new clients since the Renfreight merger about two years back.