Aramex strikes PostNet deal

ARAMEX has bought the master franchise for South African retailer PostNet for $16.5 million from OneLogix Group, the Dubai-based courier firm said as it expanded its presence in Africa.

PostNet provides courier, printing and copying services, plus stationery and mailboxes to individuals and businesses and has 287 stores in South Africa, according to an Aramex statement to Dubai’s bourse.

Each store will still be owned and operated by its respective franchisees, with Aramex acquiring the master franchise.

Total Freight opens warehouse

FREIGHT forwarding specialist Total Freight International has opened its 6,500 sq m warehouse at Dubai World Central (DWC)’s logistics district.

It will facilitate cargo warehousing and distribution as well as providing a number of value-added services including co-packing, re-packing, re-labelling and assembly to service various verticals of the logistics business, said a statement.

The warehouse has been equipped to accommodate 8,500 pallet positions.

New Qatar air cargo routes

QATAR Airways Cargo has commenced operations to three new freighter destinations: Lagos (Nigeria), Accra (Ghana) and Guangzhou (China) with the routes being served by Airbus A330 freighters.

The twice weekly freighter service to Lagos and Accra operates from Doha to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and then onward to Accra’s Kotoka International Airport, with a scheduled stop in Europe before returning to Doha.

In addition, Qatar Airways operates a thrice-weekly direct freighter service to Guangzhou.

Barwa to build warehouses

QATAR’s Barwa Real Estate said it has won a QR750-million ($206 million) contract from a government company to build and operate low-cost warehouses.

The 25-year arrangement was awarded by state-owned Manateq, according to a statement to Doha’s bourse. It did not state how many warehouses Barwa would build but did say the construction would take place within a two-year period.