HARARE, Zimbabwe, January 10, 2022/ — DHL Global Forwarding (www.DPDHL.com) has launched in Zimbabwe to extend its presence across Africa.
The leading international air, ocean, and road freight services provider will give local and regional businesses within the greater Southern African Development Community (SADC) instant access to global markets.
As a first step, DHL Global Forwarding has set up a legal entity currently employing eight graduate trainees with an office at 168 Herbert Chitepo Avenue in Harare’s CBD.
The new entity comprises a full suite of innovative technology solutions and exceptional market knowledge to successfully address the challenges faced by the country’s freight forwarding and logistics industry.
Its primary purpose is to infuse the sector with international standards synonymous with DHL and show the market the possibilities of conducting business in a compliant manner.
The offering also includes the DHL subsidiary, Saloodo!, a digital road freight platform connecting shippers and transport providers. The platform maps all transport processes digitally, including shipment tracking, freight document management, invoicing and payment.
Shuvai Mugadza, Country Manager, DHL Global Forwarding Zimbabwe, says: “Zimbabwe is on the cusp of strong economic growth, and we believe our new offering is well-timed to help the country achieve this. Our deep knowledge of the SADC and other markets on the African continent will be invaluable to our clients as they prepare for global expansion. Against the backdrop of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), which aims to create the world’s largest Free Trade area by connecting 1.3 billion people across 54 countries, we are confident that with DHL Global Forwarding Zimbabwe, logistics will not let Africa down.”
Supporting growing imports and exports
DHL Global Forwarding provides the mass network to move heavy machinery by road – mostly imported from China, Germany, and India – for Zimbabwe’s mining and manufacturing sectors. The logistics provider’s air freight services will support the export of perishable goods, currently Zimbabwe’s most significant export commodity, as well as tobacco and hemp.
Mugadza continues: “The expansion of DHL’s services in Zimbabwe will also accommodate the global export of agricultural products, a season-driven sector, as well as that of gold, the country’s top mineral export. The focus on exports is constantly changing, and meeting these demands requires agile logistics partners on the ground, which is where DHL Global Forwarding can add noticeable value.”
Andrew Mutaurwa, Managing Director, Pulse Surgical Care, comments: “DHL Global Forwarding is our preferred freight and customs clearing partner because of their ability to shorten our procurement cycle. As a provider of surgical equipment and supplies, we worked closely with them during the COVID-19 pandemic when air and ocean cargo was a challenge, but together we successfully assisted the health sector with saving lives.”
Meeting future transportation demand
DHL Global Forwarding shares SADC’s vision of a transport sector that supports vibrant industrial and social development. However, facilitating the robust integration of trade and socio-economic ties requires an efficient transport system. Zimbabwe’s central road and air network provide access to the global market through the ports of Durban and Mozambique and, together with Southern Africa’s network of roads, railways, ports, and airways, are adequate to meet the current demand of most users. However, pressure on these networks’ current capacity is mounting.
According to SADC figures, traffic for landlocked countries in the region will increase to 50 million tonnes, swelling nearly three-fold to 148 million tonnes by 2040. Port traffic will expand from 92 million tonnes to 500 million tonnes by 2027. Seeking to be part of this economic growth and development, DHL Global Forwarding aims to help meet future demand by offering an integrated, multimodal logistics solution.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Deutsche Post DHL.
About DHL:
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management.
With about 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 66 billion euros in 2020. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050.
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