Jean Yves

Bolloré Africa Logistics Angola plans to continue to provide its quality services and tailor-made logistics solutions to meet the needs of its clients along the entire value chain.

Bolloré Africa Logistics Angola is one of the top 10 transport and logistics companies with the largest integrated logistics network in Africa. What has been its mission since its establishment?

Our company has one of the major integrated logistics networks in Africa that includes the main activities, ports, and railway concessions, logistics, shipping, and freight. Our mission remains to provide the best services to our client, with our skilled employees. Now focusing on Angola, our history starts with AMI then SDV, which became Bolloré Africa Logistics. We operate two major logistics bases in Lobito and Luanda with more than 40,000sqm, including yard, offices, and warehousing facilities. We also have agencies in Soyo and Cabinda.

What have been the key moments of the past year?

We are just emerging from COVID-19, and most companies have been facing difficulties over the past two years. We have not seen the degree of development we had hoped for, though we were able to maintain our structure and facilities. Now, with business re-starting since the start of 2022, we can see real growth in terms of activity, mainly in the oil and gas business, our main area of operation, and where we are seeing steady growth. The market is rebounding, and we are confident on market perspective in Angola. We expect good figures for 2022 and 2023.

MSC acquired Bolloré Africa Logistics Unit for EUR5.6 billion. How will the Angolan operations be affected?

MSC is a family-owned group that has a long-term vision and puts its employees at the heart of its business strategy. MSC has acquired 100% of Bolloré Africa Logistics and has expressed its interest in all assets and people working at Bolloré Africa Logistics. As an industrial operator and long-term investor, MSC will spur Bolloré Africa Logistics to continue to develop its capabilities. Bolloré Africa Logistics will be in a position to work with MSC to develop tailor-made logistics solutions to meet the needs of its clients along the entire value chain. Bolloré Africa Logistics will be renamed and rebranded in 2023. The Angola market will clearly benefit from this, and we expect to provide new integrated solutions to our clients.

Are you implementing new technologies in any of your processes locally?

To provide a concrete example, internally, in our daily business, we have a company that is present in four or five different sites in Angola. To receive accreditation, we need to improve the digitalization process to make sure that we can contact our branches directly and validate on site without sending documentation. We are currently in this process. Even invoices are being sent digitally. For the clients, we have a tracking process, like most transit companies, that helps the client track while ensuring transparent communication. It also means greater efficiency, and we are glad that the government is actively endorsing related developments. It is important for us because we work closely with customs and ports and need safer access with secure payments.

How does the company contribute to Angolan economic development?

We are an international company, so the standards are high. We have all the conditions for our staff and help to support them attain those higher standards. We are not here only for a project that will last few years; we are here on a long-term basis and will continue to invest in facilities, equipment, and people. Our contribution could be resume as follow, we have an history in Angola, and we continue to build our future in Angola

What are your plans for the coming years?

We plan to maintain our facilities and equipment in proper conditions by investing. We will also enhance our staff through local content process and improving training. With our new shareholder MSC, more services will be provided to our clients. We will increase our efficiency with high quality levels.