How did you get started in the logistics industry and what has your journey been like so far?

Our company was established in March 2004 by its late founder Mr Abderrahmanne CHOUAIB having a previous experience since 1972 with Bollore, Maersk, OT Africa Line, and an Ex-Chief of customs of the republic.

We operate exclusively in Mauritania, with strategic partners in the West African region, as well as worldwide partners among the top ten logistic firms globally.

We have close relations with some of the world top names in our business field such as Schlumberger / WesternGeco, ISS Palumbo, GAC, Inchcape, Sharaf Shipping, S5, OMA Group as examples of world leading agencies we represent, and the leading freight forwarders such as ARAMEX, Kuehne Nagel, Pentagon, as examples of world leading forwarders among the top ten worldwide companies.

What are your personal ambitions for the future or what is something your company is hoping to improve/invest in?

With our own fleet of 50 trucks, including heavy trailers, our mission is to connect regional markets by carrying vital commodities in a safe and dependable manner by using the best logistics available. 

We are just as qualified in providing solutions for air and sea freight and associated logistics services on a global scale.

If there is one thing that you could change to the logistics industry, what would it be and why?

That one would be stress reduction, as sometimes for a single air freight shipment, we have to handle around fifty plus mails to respond to. Not all freight forwarders we deal with have the same approach, but we are all stressed. I have seen anti-corruption policies, anti-bribery policies, but would like to see anti-stress policies in our industry as well. 

We also believe in the customer’s right to be up to date, thus during any operation service, our customers have full right to learn about progress, timetables, deadlines etc. of a given service.

What is the most important lesson working in logistics has taught you?

The COVID-19 epidemic changed supply chains and business methods globally. As a bridge to move goods through supply chains and into the market, logistics businesses need to remember to always be prepared for any crisis and to always change, adapt, and digitize. The workplace is always flexible, and the human resources of experts and leaders need high expertise. This is especially important for customers who need to create an image of high-quality products and services of high value, which will reflect the quality of your service in the market.

What do you like most about the industry and your job in particular?

In fact, I took over the long established business family from my late father who started shortly after the Mauritanian independence in 1960, after resigning from Customs Chief of the Republic to benefit from the opportunity the private sector of logistics was seeing at the time, being a virgin market with close to near zero competition. And I have learned a lot from his experience, including being a former vessel owner transporting good between the Canary Islands and Mauritania.

I have 19 year experience in this business, since 2001 when I returned from Oxford university in UK. Our company was among the first to provide services to the oil and gas back in 2004, and we are very proud to have both formed, and employed some of the best logistics experts in the country. Some of them have now retired, and some still active with major international competitors through their Mauritanian branches.

How do you set yourself apart from your competitors?

The values we have always applied and believed in, will also help us in our company’s long-term sustainable business development goals: 

• We strive for team success, while recognizing individual achievement.
• We move fast to deliver on time, without sacrificing health, safety or the environment. 
• We communicate openly about issues, while focusing our energy on solutions.
• We care about cost effectiveness, not cost elimination.
• We innovate for the future, while learning from the past. 
• We act with integrity, and honor our commitments. 
• We listen to our customers, their interests come first.

What do you like the most about being a member of our logistics network?

Our representative Mr. Albert Pegg, who has on multiple occasions, helped all network partners with small and larger issues, as well as the vast experience and wisdom he has.

Being a local company, we are set to help international organization carry out their logistic needs in Mauritania. We are very proud to be associated with the leading networks and we have full confidence that this venture will help the company strategy in the short and long term.

— Thank you, Khalil !