Having carried out its international logistics and transport activities in Morocco for barely three years, Panalpina Maroc now plays in the big league thanks to its expertise, despite its modest size. Its establishment in the Kingdom, under the leadership of its Managing Director, Mr Maxime Van Geenberghe, has enabled it to better meet the demand of its local customers, guarantee more efficient services and monitor its entire production chain. Aware that Morocco has great potential and is on its way to becoming the gateway to other African countries, Panalpina studied and chose strategic locations in the country, with offices in Casablanca, Mohammed V Airport, Agadir and, very soon, Tangier.
A bit of history ….
Founded in 1935, the parent company initially operated successfully in the forwarding sector. Five years later, new companies in Europe and the United States took over its activities, marking the creation of a transatlantic network of branches. In 1954, the Swiss company became independent under the name “Alpina”, before being renamed “Panalpina” in 1960. “This striking new emblem symbolised the Group’s global identity. At the time, the name stood for the ‘conquest’ of the Alps by transport services, linking Northern and Southern Europe. Today, it represents the Panalpina Group’s worldwide operations on six continents”, explains the Managing Director. And so, since 22 September 2005, Panalpina has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Its ever-growing ambition led it, in October 2014, to officially open an office in Casablanca, and a second one in Agadir in January 2018.
Undisputed expertise…
With some 500 offices in more than 70 countries, the Panalpina group today operates a global network. It works with partner companies in more than 90 countries and employs around 14,500 people worldwide, who provide a comprehensive service meeting the strictest quality standards. Panalpina draws on in-depth sector know-how and customised IT systems to manage its customers’ needs, however demanding they may be. Indeed, it combines its core products of air freight, ocean freight and logistics to provide integrated end-to-end solutions on a global scale for eleven industries. It is this sum of skills that made it strong when it set up in Morocco. “From its very first year, it rose to the challenge by exceeding the expected results in a highly competitive market”, says a delighted Mr Maxime Van Geenberghe. This growth steered the company towards commercial development, notably around new products such as perishables, and the opening of new lines to West Africa, Asia and Europe.
2018, a year of development for Panalpina Maroc
The implementation of a new strategy for the development of perishables will help ensure the Group’s development in Morocco. In 2018, Panalpina Maroc will also launch two ocean groupage lines: LCL (Less than Container Load), one out of Singapore, which will be the consolidation platform in Asia, and the other via Hamburg, which will be the European hub. As for the office at Mohammed V Airport, this project is also coming at just the right time, as Panalpina has embarked on the development of perishables, i.e. everything that requires temperature-controlled transport (fruit and vegetables, seafood, but also pharma) ”. This office at the airport will mark our presence. It is an essential investment to increase our Group’s visibility in the airport area. It will allow us to be at the heart of operations and to ensure that all export procedures run smoothly”, stresses Mr Van Geenberghe. And it was with this same aim that the Agadir office was opened.
Number 1 in perishables in Morocco…
Becoming the leader in perishables transport, whether by air or by sea, is indeed the goal pursued by the Swiss company in Morocco. Open since early January 2018, Panalpina Maroc’s Agadir office is an important commercial outpost. Known for its tomatoes, melons and watermelons, but also for its fishing industry, the region will enable Panalpina to establish itself in this industry and develop its business in the south. Panalpina’s Managing Director firmly believes in it: “It is thanks to this conviction that we (Panalpina Maroc, editor’s note) have managed, with our 17 staff, to achieve a turnover of 60 million DH in just three years of existence”, he explains. And this is only the beginning. Strong growth was also recorded during the first four months of the current year. However, for Mr Van Geeberghe, nothing can ever be taken for granted and one must constantly fight, a sign of his determination and of the strong commitment of his whole team.
Three questions for:
Mr Maxime Van Geenberghe, Managing Director of Panalpina Maroc
How is Panalpina Maroc doing?
Panalpina Maroc is doing well. We are achieving strong growth. We have a young, dynamic and motivated team: staff who were recruited from Panalpina Maroc’s early days and who are still here today. We have an atmosphere that we have managed to preserve ever since, and we are very happy to see that development is on track. We all work in synergy to achieve the expected results for our 2020 Road Map and for the years to come.
What do you think of the economic relations between Switzerland and Morocco?
I think relations are excellent thanks to the work of the CCSM and of our dear Ambassador Massimo Baggi. There are a significant number of Swiss companies in Morocco. Diplomatic relations are as stable as they are fruitful.
A word about the Swiss Chamber of Commerce
Dynamism, professionalism, ambition… These are the words that best describe the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Morocco. It is admittedly a small chamber in terms of size, but it is very active and manages to bring together not only Swiss but also Moroccan companies. This can be seen at the events it organises, which attract a great many people. That is what we observed at our last committee meeting. The results were there. New members arriving, a good atmosphere, fine prospects for the economic development of Swiss and Moroccan companies… We could not have asked for more!