The world’s leading international express services provider DHL Express has widened its footprint across Sub-Saharan Africa in a major expansion drive.
The company has more than trebled its network of DHL Service Points from 300 to 1,000 in a bid to solidify its top spot in Africa.
Charles Brewer, Managing Director for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, said: “In our recent 2012 Global Connectedness Index, which measures the state of globalization around the world, Sub-Saharan Africa remained the globe’s least connected continent.”
“However, it did average the largest increase from 2010 to 2011 and boasted the top five ‘gainers’ - Mozambique, Togo, Ghana, Guinea and Zambia. This tells us that there is still major opportunity to improve connectivity across the continent, and access to logistics services and international markets are both key to this improvement.”
The company is present in 52 Sub-Saharan Africa markets but wants to improve access for cash and account managers as well as crated better accessibility for customers and increased connectivity with more than 220 countries DHL serves worldwide.
Making improvements to the convenience of service points for small and medium sized businesses is critical as it can act as a driver towards their overall success.
“The SME sector is growing at an amazing pace and this investment will help to connect African SME’s to the rest of the world,” said Brewer.
DHL has sought to increase customer access points in the region by widening the variety of its outlets it uses for example, from a small spaza shop in South Africa to a telecommunications company in Angola and a post office in Mauritius.
Brewer said: “Africa is a complex market to operate in but we’ve proven that with a bit of creativity, you can expand your footprint and provide a way to service the continent’s growth.
“Ensuring the people within Africa can access global markets and transfer skills, goods and information, means we are able to support and spur on the continued African resurgence. Expanding our retail presence is just the first step.”
