GRINDROD LOGISTICS AFRICA (PTY) LTD:
GENERATING NEW BUSINESS n March 21st, 54 African countries signed a landmark trade agreement committing signatories to remove tariffs on 90% of goods and commit to the long-term goal of a single African market. A massive step in the right direction for Africa. Combine this with the ongoing growth for demand in East Asia, where Grindrod has developed plans for generating new business links, and the future looks bright for the company.
O
Grindrod: Unlocking Strategic Trade Corridors We recently caught up with Grindrod Limited CEO, Andrew Waller, who kindly provided us with an overview of the company’s strategy and how he believes that Mozambique is set to benefit from flow-through trade that is being generated both along old strategic routes and newly opening strategic routes, in land-locked countries such as Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Overview of Strategy Grindrod, first established in 1910 as a small clearing and forwarding agency in Durban, South Africa, has evolved into an integrated logistics service supplier and a Bank. Listed on the JSE, Grindrod is a global business, employing 4700 people throughout its divisions – Port and Terminals, Logistics and Bank. Said Andrew Waller, CEO Grindrod Limited: “Grindrod was built on an entrepreneurial spirit, integrity, determination, hard work
34
BE SPECIAL REPORT [ MOZAMBIQUE ]
and a willingness to collaborate and form partnerships. It is this, together with our extensive experience that enables us to find efficient and smart solutions to complex logistics requirements. The continued global demand for African commodities underpins our strategic focus of unlocking key corridors in sub-Sahara Africa. This requires collaboration with key stakeholders, and investment in developing and extending freight infrastructure that benefits African trade. Grindrod’s experience in operating the Maputo Port, as well as strategically positioned terminals and rail networks has provided the foundation of progressing our strategy”. According to the company’s latest annual report, Grindrod are focused on unlocking the North/South Corridor - linking the DRC, Zambia and Zimbabwe to Durban and Richards Bay; Tazara Corridor - linking Dar es Salaam to the DRC and Zambia; Walvis Bay Corridor - linking the Port to the DRC, Zambia and Namibia; Chicualacuala Corridor linking Zimbabwe and Zambia to Maputo Port; Komatipoort - linking Maputo to South Africa and the Nacala Corridor - linking the Nacala Port to Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi
Freight Services Division Grindrod’s freight services division is its core competency. As Andrew tells us: “we offer services for the integrated movement of dry bulk, bulk liquid and containerised cargo along specific import and export corridors on the African continent. We provide road, rail and sea transportation, port operations, terminals,
