16 August 2013
South Africa’s Imperial Logistics has entered into a joint venture with international advisory and procurement firm The Beijing Axis to improve its international supply chain management in Asia.
The partnership will enable Imperial and its clients to benefit from increasing trade between Africa and Asia, according to Imperial’s chief integration officer, Cobus Rossouw.
“This joint venture produces a team with the ability to build a seamless distribution channel from China – and other Asian, low-cost manufacturing countries – to Africa, and vice versa,” Rossouw said this week.
It is expected to boost both firms’ operations in the mining, construction and industrial sectors.
“We can support manufacturing up-time, capital project feasibility and cost optimisation,” he said.
“This is possible through sourcing, delivering and managing competitively priced, high quality goods. Such wares include raw materials, consumables, maintenance, repair and operations items, construction material and capital equipment.
“The Beijing Axis experience and expertise in low-cost country sourcing and international logistics will support our clients and expand our ability to serve their needs in Asia-Africa business initiatives,” Rossouw said.
It will also provide operational and strategic support to Imperial’s clients expanding into Asia.
“The Beijing Axis’ work is always cross-border – supporting international firms as they act in unfamiliar territory in China and Asia, or supporting Chinese and Asian firms as they venture out and go global,” said Beijing Axis managing director Kobus van der Wath.
The Beijing Axis currently has offices in China, Singapore, Australia and South Africa.
“Our joint venture with The Beijing Axis reflects Imperial Logistics’ commitment to ensuring that our clients are positioned to take advantage of global mega-trends like the shift of economic and political power from West to East, and from developed to developing markets,” Rossouw said.
SAinfo reporter
