Barloworld Logistics, supply chain management subsidiary of industrial multinational Barloworld, has announced the US$70 million acquisition of Dubai-based Swift Group and its affiliates in the Far East, India, UAE,Africa and Germany.
The privately held Swift group has grown an international network specialising in global transportation and logistics with services between South- East Asia and Western Europe and a number of freight logistics solutions specific to African markets.
"By expanding our freight management services through their networks, we will become a significant player in a supply chain network that stretches from Asian manufacturing to Western European and African consumers, said Barloworld Logistics CEO Paul Stuiver.
"In addition, the acquisition will consolidate our existing presence in Dubai, which is already an important global logistics and trans-shipment hub. Most of the existing multimodal market originating from South east Asia is trans-shipped through the UAE".
He added that multimodal transport services into Europe and Africa off er, "great promise as an international delivery niche".
Swift Group’s chairman and founder Issa Baluch said that he will continue toplay a leading role in the Swift Group.