JCtrans: Would you please make a brief Introduction about Apex?
John Ghansah: Apex Shipping and Commercial Company (ASCO), is a limited liability company which is registered under the Corporate Laws of the republic of Ghana. Apex is a shipping and logistics organization with a wide range of expertise in shipping services, cargo handling, transportation, customs brokerage, import and export, transit, warehousing and ex-warehousing and consultancy services. Apex was established in 1997 with operational licenses from Ghana Shippers Council, Ghana port and harbors authority, Ghana institute of freight forwarders (GIFF) and Ghana customs excise and preventive service (CEPS).
In Ghana, Apex has offices in the ports of tema and takoradi, kotoka international airport (KIA) and at aflao. Within the West African sub-region, apex has affiliates in Nigeria (Lagos) and Togo. Internationally, Apex has links with Jonen freight of South Africa and Golden freight of Dubai.
JCtrans: Would you please talk about your core competitiveness?
John Ghansah: The service is our core competitiveness. Especially now, gloomy economy allows us to accumulate strength. Many enterprises which are not adapted to the market are closed. Professional competence is not the only determinant factor in this area. Service is another determinant and could not be neglected. "Heart to Heart" service is our core-concept. We do not go after the quantity alone but the service quality. We put forth to a series of policies and measures, for instance, each sale and operator should not has too many customers, and service quality is listed to their performance appraisal.
JCtrans: Would you please talk about the situation of logistic industry in Ghana?
John Ghansah: Ghana is a country sited on South of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded on the East by republic of Togo. Ghana has two international seaports in Takoradi and Tema, and Land boarders with surrounding neighboring countries. Ghana has a vibrant logistic industry and therefore, many big logistic companies in the industry have their agency offices here. Ship carriers such as Maersk, Delmas, CMA CGM, Panalpina, COSCO, MOL, ZIM, PIL, HANJIN, HappagLyloyd, K-Line and others also have their offices here. So we could say Ghana is one of famous logistic centre. There is a very strong recognized professional association of freight forwarders in Ghana, the association has over 500 registered members and there is also a government regulatory body called the Ghana Maritime Authority. There are many chances here.
JCtrans: Would you please talk about the most important thing to run a logistics forwarding company?
John Ghansah :A logistics Forwarding Company must have professionally trained workforce who are also well motivated. The organization must have a strong IT set up and an international network of logistics partners. Just because we have all these advantages, we have a stand place here.
JCtrans: Would you please talk about the outlook 2010?
John Ghansah : Apex plans to develop and expand our international network partnerships. We have a very steady market in our country; I think it is time for us to find more chances in foreign country. We will take part in many international associations such as FIATA, IATA.
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