Question 1: First
of all, thanks for receiving us. To start this interview,
could you present us the historical background of
MAERSK since the beginning of its activities in
Guinea; and explain us its position today on the
Guinean market ?
Answer 1: MAERSK Guinea has been established
here for a number of years and has been expanding
ever since. At the moment, we are one of the major
container agent in Guinea.
Q2 : When did you started your activities?
A2: We started first with having one agent.
GETMA was our agent for a certain number of years
and then, after a while, we got separated. GETMA
was GETMA then, MAERSK became agent for MAERSK LINE,
and later MAERSK SEALINE.
Q3: Could you give us a few figures representatives
of MAERSK in Guinea ?
A3: We have an increasing number of clients.
We represent at the moment only one shipping line
which is MAERSK SEALINE. We will be representing
container lines as well later. At the moment, we
are approximately 50 employees, half working in
the Port and half working at the office.
Q4: And concerning your market share ?
A4: our market share is healthy.
Q5: What about your current projects ? I've
been told you might be involved in the third project
of the Port Autonome de Conakry, maybe financing
the extension of the container terminal ?
A5: We are in discussion with the Port about
this. But there is no final decision made on anything
like that. We are in discussion and we might participate
in investing in the Port, or we might not participate.
It's not clear at the moment.
Q6: Today which are the priorities of MAERSK
?
A6: The priority is to offer the best service
to clients who have containerised import and export;
and to a certain extent, also the transit of containers
to Mali. Because after the troubles in Côte
d'Ivoire, there is a potential for transit of containers
through Guinea into Mali. |
Q7: Do you think
that making the Port Autonome de Conakry the third
Malian port is potentially feasible?
A7: Yes, I think so because if you look at
the map, Conakry is clearly the closest main port
to Bamako. So if the infrastructures are in place,
then definitely Conakry has a good potential to
be transiting Malian volumes.
Q8: As for you, which are the competitive
advantages of MAERSK in Guinea compared to the
other companies?
A8: We have a number of competitive advantages.
We represent a shipping line which is very reliable,
and when the transport has been sold, then the customer
can be 100% sure that this is all going to be delivered.
We have a very fast transit terms, from the Far
Eastern to North America. We think we deliver a
very good service, also locally, to our Guinean
clients. Our market share shows we're right.
Q9: And which are your objectives?
A9: We want to keep on having a healthy market
share, and we want to increase the number of containers
imported and exported to Guinea. This is not only
for us, this is in general. We would like to have
an expanding market, rather than just us expanding
a market share.
Q10: In order to reach these objectives, are
you looking for any foreign partners ?
A10: No. We're not looking for any partners
in anything we do. And we don't expand outside the
transport. So if the client has any investment to
be done, then we can be his assistant in transport,
but that's all.
Q11: As a last question, what would be the
most satisfying experience you had so far as General
Manager of MAERSK Guinea ?
A11: We finished 2002 with good results,
and we have recently opened a mining logistics department
where we want to serve exclusively the Guinean mining
industry. That's something I fought for a lot and
with that part of the business, I'm very happy.
There is a big market for us and for our competitors;
but so far, I don't think that the logistics companies
have fully focused on what the mining industry wants
from the transport providers. And I think we're
getting very close of they want exactly. So that
should hopefully cut a lot of costs in the mining
industry also, for Guinean products to be more competitive.
Q12: Maybe a final message for the readers
of l'EXPRESS who might be interested in investing
here ?
A12: Before I came to Guinea, I was with
the impression that Guinea does not have a very
good reputation around the ,world and that the investments
were not too safe. I want to say that's not my experience.
All I could say is that people should invest in
Guinea like we do. There is not the danger which
is rumoured to be here. |
M. Nicolaj
HANSEN