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Safmarine expects trade between SA and West Africa to grow in 2015

21st November 2014

By: Zandile Mavuso

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

  

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The multipurpose trade between South Africa and West Africa is expected to grow in 2015 as a result of South African companies strengthening their footprint in the West African market and becoming globally competitive, says multipurpose vessel owner Safmarine MPV.

“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,” says Safmarine MPV owner James Lewer.

This follows after Dominex was awarded a tender to supply Angola’s major railway line Caminho de Ferro de Benguela (CFB) with 11 rail wagons earlier this year.

The rail wagons were destined for CFB, which links the Port of Lobito to the eastern border town of Luau, in Moxico province, in Angola – where a new international airport is under construction.

“The CFB is a very important and strategic rail network, not only because it provides access to the inner part of the country, but because it links to the copperbelts of Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia,” he mentions.

Lewer adds that, based on a recent economic outlook report published by the African Development Bank, the OECD Development Centre and the United Nations Development Programme, intra-Africa trade of value-added manufactured goods has grown faster than African exports to the rest of the world.

This has caused Angola to rebuild and upgrade railway infrastructure for the future, says Dominex owner Nico Christodoulakis, noting that this is a response to the demand from the growing emerging middle class for more executive rail transportation and accommodation.

“Having access to a reliable and frequent shipping service, such as Safmarine MPV’s SAFWAF service, makes it possible for companies such as Dominex to take advantage of the significant business opportunities in West Africa,” he adds.

This comes after Safmarine MPV 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.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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