Govt asks local transporters to be competitive
Minister of Transport and Public Works Francis Kasaila has asked local transporters to work as one entity if they are to compete favourably with international hauliers.
The remarks follow complaints by the Road Transport Operators Association (RTOA) executive director Chrissie Flao that international transporters are dominating business, a situation that threatens local transporters’ survival in the sector.
one entity
Flao told Business News last week that RTOA has been engaging Ministry of Transport and Public Works to level the playing field.
But in an interview, Kasaila said much as he appreciates the challenges local transporters are facing, the transporters have to be competitive.
He said most importers and exporters prefer international hauliers because they have back up and goods arrive at their set destination in good time.
“I urge local transporters to organise themselves by bringing their trucks together so that they do their business as one entity.
“With this arrangement they can easily help one another during a crisis or a breakdown,” Kasaila said. n
