With East Africa pumping, Intraspeed looks west

New Cape Town branch office facilitates Luanda growth JOY ORLEK LOGISTICS SPECIALIST Intraspeed has recorded a whopping 300% increase in volumes to East Africa over the past six months and managing director Jade da Costa believes that this is just the beginning. Using Entebbe as the key hub, the company has taken on board an online partner specialising in fresh produce and is currently moving in the region of 20-25 tons a week to the region. “We’re now in the top five agents into Entebbe and the second largest carrier on MK,” Da Costa told FTW. “It’s largely a result of regular sales visits to our clients in Entebbe as well as follow-up with shippers on both sides.” Marketing manager Claire Hide, who was based in Entebbe for a year before joining Intraspeed, looks after the trade route, handling the full range of general commodities with particular focus on the pharmaceutical industry. Carrier reliability is one of the major challenges, according to Da Costa. “Scheduled flights often don’t come in as scheduled which creates a backlog, but we work closely with the carriers and try to put pressure on them to give our clients better service.” Developing the West African market, through online alliance partners, is a short-term priority, says Da Costa. “The Cape Town to Luanda trade has always been good, but is picking up right now, which is the reason for the opening in February of a branch office in Cape Town,” says Justin Carr who heads up the new branch.