Ongoing investment in infrastructure across southern Africa is good news for the logistics industry, but more work is required when it comes to border posts.“Advanced and innovative technology is critical to the success of any transportation or logistics company, especially for those operating in developing and third-world countries,” says Chris van Tonder, CEO of Greendoor Group. “Border systems need to be reviewed and upgraded on a frequent basis, with all payments to be made electronically via electronic transfer directly from home base. This would reduce various risk factors related to handling cash at the various border posts.”Decreasing border time also has to be a priority, he says. “Border crossings should also be much quicker and more efficient. Having backup systems to continue operating during electricity or power interruptions/outages would be a viable solution.”According to Van Tonder, several countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been investing millions in infrastructure related to border posts. “If the border post, however, remains inefficient, the required return on investment will not be reaped as projected by the country.”Delays at border posts in Africa have long been a major concern for transporters and forwarders.In a study conducted by the SADC in 2021 it was found that in the space of five months, economies in southern Africa lost $330 million due to delays at borders between SADC countries alone.Van Tonder says roads can also not be neglected in the investment drive. “Road conditions are by far the most important aspect in Africa as this ultimately links ports with the hinterlands throughout the respective corridors, as well as playing an integral part in developing the gateways and access between countries across Africa.”The Greendoor Group, which is part of the broader J&J Group, which was recently been acquired by Imperial Logistics/DP World, has actively been growing its African footprint for some time.“We currently have a very recognisable and well-established footprint across various countries within SADC,” says Van Tonder. “A t pr e s e n t , there is a lot of emphasis and focus on growing the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) route, with increased volumes moving both north- and southbound. The Maputo route is also becoming a more attractive route as we have seen an improvement in efficiencies, with the Ressano Garcia Border now operating 24 hours a day.”The company is also focusing on growing and expanding its footprint in the consolidated transport market, as well as project and specialised cargo into the continent.“Africa has huge market potential,” says Van Tonder. “Our ports are underutilised, with below-average productivity levels compared to other countries with similar infrastructure and equipment, which ultimately presents the opportunity for improvement and optimising capacity and efficiencies.”While the tight global economic conditions at present do pose some challenges, Van Tonder says he remains optimistic about the outlook for Africa. “It holds a very promising outlook, as we can only learn and grow from past experiences which resulted in inefficiencies and less sustainable solutions. Every transport and logistics company plays a vital role in the logistics value chain – and as stakeholders, we must always challenge the status quo. There have been some recovery interruptions caused by Covid-19 and the current Ukraine-Russia conf lict, which hampered growth in several African countries, but with the opportunities presented under current market conditions there seems to be light after some challenging times over the past few years.”
