Company Announcement - Shipping line SafmarineMPV expects the multi-purpose trade between South Africa and West Africa to grow in 2015 as South African companies strengthen their foothold in the West African market and become more globally competitive. According to SafmarineMPV’s James Lewer, “Intra-Africa trade of value-added, manufactured goods has grown faster than African exports to the rest of the world, according to a recent Economic Outlook Report published by the African Development Bank, OECD Development Centre and United Nations Development Programme. “South African companies such as Gauteng-based Dominex – which provides infrastructure parts and manufactured goods to railway and mining companies in Africa – have seemingly proven their competitiveness globally as well as their ability to respond to West Africa’s needs for goods and services.”

Earlier this year Dominex was awarded a tender to supply Angola’s major railway line, Caminho de Ferro de Benguela with 11 rail wagons, following a global tender process. The rail wagons were destined for the Caminho de Ferro de Benguela which links the port of Lobito to the eastern border town of Luau in Moxico province, where a new international airport is under construction. Dominex had previously supplied two train sets to CFB in 2011 and were chosen again as the preferred supplier for the new tender as a result of their proven ability. According to Dominex’s Kirk and Nico Christodoulakis, “Angola is rebuilding and upgrading the railway infrastructure for the future, responding in particular to the demand from the emerging and growing middle-class for more executive rail transportation and accommodation. “The CFB is a very important and strategic Angolan rail network, not only because it provides access to the inner part of the country but, more importantly, because it links to the copperbelts of Katanga province, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.”

It was the first time Dominex and their freight forwarder, Mentor Freight Services, had shipped with Belgian-based shipping line SafmarineMPV. According to Kirk Christodoulakis, “Having access to a reliable and frequent shipping service, such as SafmarineMPV’s SAFWAF service, makes it possible for companies such as Dominex to take advantage of the significant business opportunities in West Africa.” According to SafmarineMPV’s James Lewer, “SafmarineMPV was on hand throughout the loading process and appointed a team which comprised in-house and third-party experts in rigging and lashing as well as handling and stowing to ensure the rail coaches arrived safely in Lobito.”