Global delivery, transport and logistics company subsidiary FedEx Express acquired the delivery and logistics businesses of Supaswift in Southern Africa to augment its capabilities and offer logistics services and express delivery throughout the Southern Africa region, says FedEx Express Marketing and Communications VP Nathalie Amiel-Ferrault.

These acquisitions represent the company’s strategy to expand its African network and service offering.

“FedEx Express now has direct access across seven Southern African countries through Supaswift’s 40 facilities, more than 1 000 employees and over 270 vehicles. FedEx Express is offering a complete suite of export, import and competitive domestic solutions across Southern Africa, connecting the region to more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, enhancing customers’ business flexibility and speed to market.”

The skills and knowledge of Supaswift employees are the most important part of the acquisitions to ensure that global FedEx service levels are maintained in the region. Supaswift has proved that it can provide high-level services in the Southern Africa region and has been representing FedEx in the region since Supaswift merged with MyExpress in 2005, says FedEx Express Southern African MD Micky West.

The seven countries – Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa and Zambia – represent about 20% of the continent’s gross domestic product and present a solid economic opportunity, primarily for transport and logistics services, says Amiel-Ferrault.

“Transport and logistics are key enablers of global trade with Africa, and intraregional trade on the continent, which is progressing strongly. The growth of intraregional trade will also boost global trade in Africa. Supaswift has demonstrated its ability to provide seamless transport and logistics services throughout the region,” says West.

The primary benefit of acquiring the Supaswift businesses is that FedEx Express can provide a comprehensive bundle of services for customers, including a specific set of solutions required by customers from different industries, while leveraging FedEx’s global express services and airfreight services, adds Amiel-Ferrault.

“We [make it possible for] our customers to reduce the level of stock they must hold in inventory, as we can provide express delivery, transport and logistics across the region and worldwide. Our close working relationships with customers enable us to provide advice and improve their supply chains.

“We also foresee gaining new customers, large and small, who want to use our local capabilities and the global network provided by FedEx Express,” concludes West.