Supply chain and logistics company Imperial Logistics has partnered with Ghanaian conglomerate LMI Holdings to form a new business Imperial LMI Logistics to provide logistics services in Ghana and the rest of West Africa.
“The vision of Imperial LMI is to be an integrated, end-to-end supply chain partner of choice in Ghana, with sufficient capacity and scale to catalyse economic growth and position Ghana as a trading hub for West Africa,” says Imperial Managed Solutions CEO Johan Truter.
Among the LMI Holdings assets that the new business will make use of is a new 93 000 m2 warehouse, which will enable Imperial LMI Logistics to offer clients storage with easy access to the Port of Tema – an important gateway to West Africa.
“Our partnership with Imperial represents an exciting new era for the group, enabling us to use Imperial’s systems, technology and skills to unlock the potential of LMI’s logistics assets,” states LMI Holdings CEO Kojo Aduhene.
Imperial LMI Logistics forms part of Imperial Managed Solutions and is based on an asset light business model and will not acquire any assets of its own.
Truter explains that strategic business partners will be identified to provide the required assets, including warehouses and vehicles.
“A detailed vetting process will be employed to ensure that service providers comply with the required service levels, including adherence to industry legislation.”
Ghanaians will be offered training to enable them to take on senior positions within the business, and this will include training at Imperial’s Johannesburg-based in-house training centre, the Imperial Logistics Academy.
The services that Imperial LMI Logistics will roll out initially include freight and warehousing services, as well as associated value-added offerings.
Looking ahead, Imperial LMI Logistics will expand its integrated solutions with the addition of new service capabilities as these are enabled by the completion of various LMI capital projects.
“Upon the completion of LMI Holdings’ container terminal in the Tema enclave, Imperial LMI Logistics will be able to offer an integrated solution for multiple users of the terminal and the warehouse,” Aduhene explains.
The container terminal is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2018.