strong growth opportunities in Africa.
For instance, Value Group CEO Steven Gottschalk said in the transport company’s interim results in October that he aimed to benefit from "the substantially higher growth rates achieved across the (African) continent".
"This expansion will enable the group to service the growth requirements of its customers, penetrate new markets and increase its overall volume base."
Another logistics company, Cargo Carriers, owned primarily by the Bolton family, declined to comment on its geographical plans. There is speculation Bidvest may acquire the company. Bidvest already operates in Namibia.
In June, Cargo Carriers bought 55% of Zambian-registered BHL, a transporter of commodities including copper concentrates, lime and sulphuric acid.
Cargo Carriers already provides transport, logistics, aviation charter and other services to customers in sub-Saharan Africa.
BHL conducts most of its business in Zambia, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Cargo Carriers in June said it planned to grow through acquisitions and risk diversification in neighbouring countries.
The BHL transaction expanded its ability to provide logistics solutions on the subcontinent and enabled it to take advantage of the boom in Zambian mining.
Cargo Carriers said there were significant growth prospects in both the African mining and industrial sectors. BHL was a well-established business which had long-term contracts and an established management team.
The Imperial group has started to look at Africa for business destinations. Earlier this year, Imperial Holdings bought the pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare supply chain of South African-based RTT Group for R500m, further extending its African footprint. RTT delivers essential medicines and commercial healthcare products in regional states including Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Ghana.
Source :bdlive.co.za
