OUR SYMBOL.
AFRICAN CARGO AND LOGISTICS ALLIANCE
A NETWORK FROM AFRICA AND FOR AFRICANS. 53 COUNTRIES. OUR CONTINENT. TH ADDRESS:
BUILDING A VIABLE CARGO AND LOGSITICS ROUTE TO AFRICAN AND THE FATE OF FREIGHT FORWARDERS IN A GLOBAL DITRESSED ECONOMY.
We are greatly honored to address this 3rd Global Shipping China Summit which is fast becoming the meeting point of the global Leaders in the Shipping, Logistics and Supply chain industry.
I will spend most of this little but great opportunity to address the following.
A. Giving information about the ACLA Network,
B. Giving you an insight into some of the business opportunities available in Africa
C. Speaking on African-China Trade Relationship.
D. And finally to present little advise to the Freight Forwarding Community on the present Global Financial Crises.
ABOUT THE AFRICAN CARGO & LOGISTICS ALLIANCE (ACLA NETWORK).
Indeed African Cargo & Logistics Alliance otherwise known as ACLA Network was formed at this time to harness the untapped but rich resources in the African cargo and logistics industry.
Before now there has been very low level of participation of African Shipping, Freight Forwarding and Logistics practitioners on the international scene. This long abandonment denied the African continent of its fair share of the global business opportunities offered by the shipping industry.
We in ACLA Network have attributed this failure to some internal problem of Africa such as Language and Unfavorable Trade Barriers, Slow pace in development and ignorance of the golden opportunities available in international trading activities.
ACLA Network has taken it upon them to unlock this problem and bring about positive change in the African Shipping and Logistics industry.
This Change will be in many aspects such as Capitalization, Efficiency and Credibility.
As a network driven by a challenge to open up, develop and connecting Africa, we are assuring all our business partners that ACLA Network will and must observe all international business standards, maintain reliable structures and employ experts in all areas of our operations.
Currently we are targeting to cover all the 53 countries of Africa directly or indirectly by July 2009.
HOW WE WORK.
We as a Network is an umbrella containing many credible and reliable Shipping, NVOCC, Freight Forwarding, Courier, Logistics and Supply chain companies in all the African countries and Africans in the Diaspora.
We sign agreement, provide protection for both the African company members of the ACLA and their Foreign partners and principals.
For example: Company A from Asia may like to have a reliable agent in Libya, what they need to do is get in touch with the ACLA Network and we will nominate our member(s) there and they start working.
Again some shipping lines may want to cover all Africa or a part of Africa and ACLA will enter in Contractual agreement with such shipping Lines, NVOCC etc and all our members from such region will be their automatic agents.
OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE:
Due to numerous opportunities and the need to cover and transform African freight forwarding industry, we are working measures to encourage membership to our Network.
From October 2008 to January 31,2009 membership to the ACLA Network attracts 10% discount.
Any company referred to the Network by an oversea organization attracts 15% discount divided as follows.
5% to the referee (overseas company or organization) 10% to the African company seeking registration.
All our commissions are paid on T/T direct to the beneficiaries.
Therefore from today if any company in Africa approaches you for business co- operation refer them to join ACLA Network for the security of your business with them.
WHAT IS OUR SECURITY MEASURES? We have put in place what we call Business Protection Plan (BPP) which serves as measures to cover every business transaction with ACLA members, for the ACLA Network and our Oversea Partners.
1. BPP fund deposit by all members of the Network.
2. Monthly report collection of incomplete business dealing both from our overseas partners and our members.
3. Constant monitoring of Members’ business by way of Phone calls, and email alerts.
With all the above measures, what the Network requests from our partners and agents is constant communications on every development their transactions.
By these every organization that is desirous of doing business in Africa will only have to contact our network.
Also, we will always run a security enquiry of every oversea company that want to do business with ACLA Network.
We do that through our numerous Agents overseas, Embassies and Chambers of Commerce.
SOME OF THE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICAN FREIGHT FORWARDING AND SHIPPING INDUSTRY.
Africa will continue to be a continent of shipping and logistics focus for many years to come due to the rich potentials it offers.
As an import dependant continent, Africa has large coastal areas, about 195 seaports, and various Inland Container Deports.
We can authoritatively reveal to you all here present, that many of the sea ports in Africa were built many years ago and are currently seeking for either expansion, efficient management or a decongestion.
Just last week we received a call for proposal from the NEPAD for a fast African development suggestions from African Private Sector and ACLA has responded to this call be sending a comprehensive suggestion on building Dry Ports on all African Countries without seaport access.
We are very hopeful that this proposal will sail through.
There are also many opportunities in the areas of Banking, Trading, Tourism, Manufacturing, Communication and Transport. A QUICK INTRODUCTION OF THE AFRICAN DELEGATES TO THE 3 RD GLOBAL SHIPPING SUMMIT.
Currently on the African delegation to this year’s event are ICD owners, Shipping Companies and Standard Freight Forwarders who are here to sign or go into partnership, Management Agreement and Agency Agreement with any organization willing to come to Africa or doing business in Africa.
They are:
1. Allizzy Cargo Services Ltd has been in active Air cargo Consolidation from China and Bombay India and South Africa. They are therefore not new to the Chinese business environment.
2. Nigeria Ports Authority is here today to seek development and co-operation with shipping lines and ship owners that will be ready to sail to the Nigeria territorial waters. They are more interested on Ro-Ro vessel of --- capacity.
3. Baltic Air Cargo and Maritime Services Ltd is one of the newest Inland container Port owners in Nigeria. They have developed lager verse of land and will be happy to go into agreement with ship owners, shipping companies and NVOCCs for the feeding of their terminals. They are also ready to employ expatriates from china for the management of their container terminal.
4. Victory Connection Nigeria Ltd is also a new shipping company desirous of working with shipping companies and agents for agency and partnership development.
5. Mitchelle Nigeria Ltd is one of the Nigeria’s oldest shipping company and ICD owners. They maintain a Bonded Terminal and will be very happy having strong co-operations with ship owners, NVOCCs and Freight forwarders.
6. Balaguer Limited is well organized Freight forwarding company seeking consolidation arrangement with Freight Forwarders, Cargo consolidators and NVOCC companies. They are currently consolidating for AA Logistics ----USA. 7. Darlington Services ltd is a full fledge freight forwarding and Oil servicing company seeking for co-operation with Freight Forwarders, NVOCC companies Oil Services and servicing companies. They are also into export import of goods from Africa and to Africa.
8. Tomay Agencies Nigeria Ltd is a Freight forwarding Company seeking for co- operation with freight forwarders and consolidators that want to work with a reliable company in Nigeria. They will like to work with consolidators that will door to door business in Nigeria.
9. Contraco Limited is a full fledge Oil servicing and Shipping company seeking for co-operation with oil companies and shipping companies. They want partnership with companies both from the wet and dry cargo areas. They could not make it to this summit due to some logistic problems. Any company ready to work them can contact the ACLA Network.
10. Afriglobe Shipping Lines Ltd is an NVOCC company seeking for co-operation and partnership with companies in their areas of business. They are very reliable and vast in Door to Door cargo consolidation. They belong to the MTG Network and already handling cargos from all over the world. They are the founding members of the ACLA Network.
AFRICAN –CHINA TRADE RELATIONSHIP.
China has been Africa’s strongest trading partners even though this partnership has been running on a deficit against Africa due to non export activities from Africa.
At the Beijing Summit and 3rd Inter-Ministerial Forum for China –African Co-operation in November 1996, His Excellency, the Premier of this great People’s Republic of China assured the African Heads of state from Africa, that China will increase their investment in Africa to hit 100billion USD before the year 2010. And Currently Chinese investment as at the end of 2007 was about $80billion USD. That to close watchers is a very interesting promises and which we are very optimistic that they will surely be kept.
But the questions from the Shipping and Logistics Communities are:
1. How much of this investment will come from the Chinese Shipping community?
2. Why is the Chinese business community shying away from active participation in shipping and logistics businesses in Africa?
3. Why is it that all Chinese trade delegation to African countries is only for traders and manufacturers?
Chinese Traders now are found in all cities of Africa today but they keep shying away from the logistics and shipping, courier and freight forwarding services even though these areas offers huge return of investment.
While we are waiting for answers to these questions and more, we will like to assure those here today that Africa offers safe haven for investment in all areas, cargo industry inclusive.
THE FUTURE OF FREIGHT FORWARDING IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY CRISES.
Freight forwarding and indeed shipping services revolve around trade. Shipping is part of trade.
Indeed shipping activities is the only vehicle through which trade is enhanced.
Then if the current global economic crises have been attributed to market failure which is an integral part of trade, there is every tendency that the shipping industry will surely be highly affected.
Though the developed countries are working so hard proffering solution to caution the effects of these crises on their economies, but it is already noticeable that there is slow pace of business in the global shipping industry.
However, I am still very optimistic that the financial crises like any other economic depression will surely pass away.
Indeed every country of the world has at one time or the order witness depressions and with active mindsets of experts such depressions are defeated.
The current global economic crisis is currently placed on the daily chart because the whole world is affected. By that we from the ACLA Network are very optimistic that the depression will soon be a thing of the past. The only question we must try to solve are how do we live and work within the times of global depression and after.
Because we so much believe that Necessity is the Mother of Invention we can only proffer some solutions to enable us live and work effectively within this times.
EFFECTIVE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT IN A GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS ECONOMY.
Like we have said above we can only offer little advice on how best we can do business within the period of the depression.
A. There will be need for a cut in business running costs. B. There will also be need for companies to invest more on information Technology to reduce cost of staff maintenance. C. Finally we enjoin Freight forwarders to encourage merger.
We strongly encourage merging among freight forwarders to withstand strong competitions ad the smaller companies may closed down due high business running costs.
Ladies and Gentlemen we in ACLA Network welcomes every opinion ,suggestion and criticisms so that we can together build a better and vibrant Cargo and Logistics Network that will withstand the test of time and compete effectively among the community of Nations.
Thanks you all and welcome to Africa.
Thank your all for the wonderful time with you all.
Ukata Christian I
ACLA Network.