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Pall-Ex helps tackle Tanzania transport costs
[ November 15, 2013 // Chris ]Pall-Ex Group sales director Chris Tancock and a team at the palletised freight network are sharing their expertise with the Department for International Development (DFID) to help reduce transport and logistics costs in East Africa.
As part of the project, Tancock has accompanied Secretary of State Justine Greening on a trip to Tanzania, part of a region with the second highest transportation costs in the world. He joined a delegation of 18 British and international businesses and social enterprises to share his thoughts on the logistics infrastructure in the region. During the trip Justine Greening also announced a series of new commercial initiatives to help the poorest benefit from economic growth in Tanzania including the Logistics Innovation for Trade (LIFT) challenge fund, to encourage private sector investment in freight and other logistics technologies in East Africa.
The £10m scheme will provide matching grants to local and international companies to fund innovative ideas to help cut transport and logistics costs. It will be managed by TradeMark East Africa, a not-for-profit organisation, which aims to reduce transport time along the main transport corridors in East Africa
Frank Matsaert, chief executive of TradeMark East Africa, explained: “A 10% reduction in transport costs is likely to increase trade by 25% worldwide, more in Africa where transport costs are higher. Without logistics efficiency problems being addressed, East Africa’s growth potential will be seriously constrained.”
Tags: Africa, Chris Tancock, DFID, Pall-Ex, Tanzania