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Time for traders to get to grips with the Russian Bear?

[ July 28, 2021   //   ]

Anglo-Russian freight business FSM Logistics is offering a consultancy service to help guide companies through the complexities of trading with Russia and the CIS countries.

UK-based FSM Logistics not only offers a portfolio of freight forwarding and logistics services globally, t has a deep understanding of the markets of the former Soviet Union (FSU), says director,  Alfred Stienen. FSM was one of the first international logistics providers to establish itself in the market following the unravelling of the USSR in the 1990s, he points out.

With Brexit having made trading with traditional markets in the EU much more complicated, many firms are looking at markets further afield, he believes. The countries of the region have a large middle class and spending power has increased, he adds.

However: “Many businesses are dissuaded from considering trade with these markets as they are portrayed as impenetrable, which is an impression that we want to correct, and encourage UK traders to think again.”

Stienen accepts that whilst trading with Russia and countries of the CIS can look complicated for the outsider, the former is the UK’s 21st largest trading partner, with total trade in goods and services between the UK and Russia having a current value of over £150 billion per annum.

FSM’s new trade and logistics consultancy service for Anglo-Russian freight is a full value-added support operation, including advice on fiscal, tax, insurance, credit and Customs; multilingual staff in all offices; documentation, such as letters of credit, and Certificates of Origin, and even armed-escorts for highly valuable cargoes.

It complements overland trailer, oceanfreight and airfreight services between the UK and continental Europe with Russia and the FSU countries.

He says that he can guarantee fellow freight forwarders and logistics companies that are getting shipping enquiries for these markets from existing customers, but turning them down due to lack of knowledge, “a service partnership that is truly neutral”.

Steinen points out: “Whilst regulations, administrative procedures and requirements in this region are very different from those in Europe, through our local experts we have the right knowledge, network of contacts and know-how to meet all the local requirements.”

FSM Logistics is the trading name of the FS Mackenzie International Group, based in Basildon. It is not connected in any way with FS Mackenzie, a member of the Singapore Post Group of companies.

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