DHL targets expanding regional business

By John Oyuke

Global freight and logistics firm DHL Express is expanding reach to tap in to  business in the larger  eastern Africa region.

The firm  is planning to build an airport in Juba, South Sudan. It also wants add freighter aircraft to its regional routes to enhance trade between eastern Africa and the rest of the world. “We see this as a strategic development in further cementing business relations between this region and rest of the world” said DHL Express Managing Director for Equatorial Africa, Mr Alan Cassels.

The firm operates in over 220 countries and territories worldwide, including over 50 within sub-Saharan Africa with a dedicated air network and infrastructure. Cassels said a regional trucking network to improve connection to international airports would back up the new hub in Juba. He said the recent oil discovery in Turkana and the return of peace and stability to Somalia, makes  the region interesting economically.

Better infrastructure

The firm currently operates two freighter aircrafts from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Dar es Salaam and Entebbe.   He said  poor infrastructure, custom clearance obstacle,ow de-minimisis — the minimum amount of duty collected by customs.  “Go to any customs environment and see how long it takes to clear a shipment and you understand why we don’t export or import more,” he said.

Cassels said in Tanzania de-minimisis is $1.50 (Sh126)and anything above that will go through formal clearance, Kenya $50 (Sh4200) and  Angola charges $350 (Sh29,400).