Swift Perishable Logistics wins MELA Awards 2007

Receiving the award for Swift was Jack Mwaura, General Manager of Swift Perishable Logistics. "I believe this recognition is a result of the team effort of operations support staff in Nairobi and Dubai, plus the resilience and belief of Swift management in this product. I wish to salute the CEO, Mr. Issa Baluch, who has been the vision and the architect of SPL—the product wouldn't have been possible without him. This is only the beginning and we are set to build on this recognition," Mwaura said.

Before SPL was conceptualized, Swift was aware of Africa's transport imbalance, wherein freighters travel from Dubai to Africa full of consumer goods, but return empty. Taking advantage of this imbalance, Swift's Chairman and CEO, veteran freight forwarder Issa Baluch, formed SPL and redirected some of these shipments through Dubai, particularly through the Dubai Flower Centre (DFC).

Through the extensive network of Swift in Africa, and using the facilities of DFC, SPL became one of the first operators to be based in DFC to provide scheduled and ad hoc services using the reverse of SAM freighters to bring in perishable goods. SAM or Sea Air Model is another product of Swift that is a cost-effective alternative for shipments to Africa offering fixed schedules at competitive rates.

Key origin points for SPL are Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Tanzania. Destination points include, the Middle East, Mediterranean; plus direct air access from Dubai to Scandinavia, CIS, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea and Australia.

To date, SPL moves freighters frequently via DFC, which has had the pull effect to establish offices in Addis Ababa as well. SPL will be the first and only logistics operator to operate an exclusive cool storage warehouse in Eldoret in Kenya dedicated for floriculture.