We at United Marine Agencies are glad to learn that Karachi Port Trust is inaugurating its new project Karachi Deep Water Container Port Dredging and Reclamation Works, to transform Karachi Port into a modern, competitive, user friendly Port and a transshipment hub of the Region.
The successful implementation of such a large project of this nature requires full extent of attention in order to achieve this goal. We commend ministry of Port and Shipping, KPT and all other stake holders and would like to compliment the Chairperson and staff for their fine efforts at Karachi Port and best wishes to the consultants and the contractor in the execution of this contract.
UMA, providing world class shipping services An interview with Sohail Shams, CEO United Marine Agencies:
Q1: Please tell us briefly about the history and working of United Marine Agencies (Pvt) Ltd United Marine Agencies (Pvt) Ltd, commencing operations in 1988, provides efficient and competitive-priced shipping, cargo and related marine services in Pakistan and beyond. With its head quarter based in Karachi, Pakistan, the Company operates full-service branch offices in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan.
The shipping agency and agent for Hyundai brands, the Company is also the exclusive Pakistani representative for other products such as Hamburg Sud, KMTC, RCL, CCNI, Delmas and Ceekay.
The Company primarily acts as shipping agent for liner, container, bulk cargo, tanker and conventional vessels at both Karachi Port and Port Qasim. The reason behind the cutting edge services provided by the company involves experienced, professional and dynamic team in the shipping industry and its requirements. Today the company's operations are recognised and certified by DNV under the ISO 9001-2000 benchmark. The company has been awarded 30th / 31st / 32nd FPCCI trophy and Brand of the Year Award 2006 in recognition of the services.
Q2: What do you think about the investment climate of Pakistan? Is it favourable as compared to other countries? If not, what do you suggest to improve the situation? Pakistan is blessed with all sort of resources due to which investment opportunities are in abundance, however due lack of proper infrastructure and perceived security threats, foreign and local investors are hesitant to invest and prefer neighbouring countries where infrastructure and law and order is more conducive to give better returns for their investments, so therefore it is needed that Govt. must focus on improving the infrastructure and resolve the power crisis along with law and order situation to make the climate conducive for investment in Pakistan.
Business people are attaching great importance to the current scenario of economic activity including Chinese investment in the deep-sea Gwadar port and political stability in neighbouring Afghanistan as these two factors have great potential to attract investment at a massive scale in Pakistan. A peaceful Afghanistan is a pre-requisite for cross border gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to India via Pakistan and opening of new era of development with the development of Gwadar Port in Balochistan.
Q3: What is involved in developing a logistic strategy?
When a company creates a logistics strategy it is defining the service levels at which its logistics services are most cost effective. Because supply chains are constantly changing and evolving, a company may develop a number of logistics strategies for specific product lines, specific countries or specific customers. A company can start to develop a logistics strategy by looking at four distinct levels of their logistics organisation.
-- Strategic: By examining the company's objectives and strategic supply chain decisions, the logistics strategy should review how the logistics organisation contributes to those high-level objectives.
-- Structural: The logistics strategy should examine the structural issues of the logistics organisation, such as the optimum number of warehouses and distribution centers or what products should be produced at a specific manufacturing plant.
-- Functional: Any strategy should review how each separate function in the logistics organisation is to achieve functional excellence.
-- Implementation: The key to developing a successful logistics strategy is how it is to be implemented across the organisation. The plan for implementation will include development or configuration of an information system, introduction of new policies and procedures and the development of a change management plan.
Q4: What is the business plan of your company for this year?
-- To take the advantage of Growth in our market and to continue evaluating new business opportunities related to our core business (Liner Agency).
-- Induct new Liner Shipping principals.
-- Target new Tanker and Tramp principals.
-- Focus on increasing the business volume from the present Liner Principal by 25% in 2008.
-- To intact Liner principal's interest through strong follow up and market feedback.
-- To develop strong service delivery set-up to maintain the service standard and growth.
-- To emphasis on project cargo business.
-- To develop ware housing and distribution services.
-- Our goal is to invest in efficient data processing and developing new system.
-- In the context of the ongoing reform process, the present business plan provides the basis for enabling UMA to adapt its functions and priorities and orient its activities to the new realities of the changing global economic environment and ensure its viability and efficiency.
Q5: Do you think that the local shipping business has witnessed extraordinary growth during the past few years? What is your forecast for the future and how do you plan to cater the rising demand?
Yes shipping business has witnessed extra ordinary growth owing to increase in the trade volume to/from Pakistan which in fact manifestation of past good GDP growth. However now due to overall economic meltdown and financial crisis the growth in the trading volume will be affected and slowdown the momentum but despite of this evident slowdown the demand will pickup in end of 2009 or early next year for which we being in the capacity as service provider are fully geared up with improved facilities and proper infrastructure to cope with the demand to serve the trade with more efficiency in cost effective way.
Q6: The law and order situation has been an issue in Pakistan for quite some time now? What is your company's strategy to run business under such circumstances?
No doubt the law and order has been the main issue in Pakistan impeding the growth and opportunities. Our company however has evolved the strategy which ensures the seamless operation by focusing on using state of art IT technology which provides the cutting edge to serve the customers and fulfilling the mandatory requirements of the authorities to run the business as usual under unusual circumstances. In short, we have strong back up plan, disaster management like having substitute office set up, thus adopted business continuity approach.
Q7: We would like to know more about contribution of UMA Pakistan towards Corporate Social Responsibility?
In Pakistan companies are turning eyes towards social responsibilities and UMA is among the one who believe in social responsibility.
UMA's contribution towards Corporate Social Responsibility through an effective HSSE Management System by:
-- Establishing local HSSE Management Systems
-- Providing employees, customers, visitors and other stakeholders with necessary HSSE Information, instructions and training
-- Providing and maintaining a safe, secure, and healthy working environment
-- Encouraging a preventative action culture
Our Spirit:
"Our goals are simple - no harm to people, no accidents, no security breaches, and no damage to the environment.
Q8: Human Capital is a challenge to the entire shipping sector, how do you plan to address this?
Shipping is among those sectors which require skill personnel and to find right personnel has always been a challenge. To effectively deal with this challenge we have developed and established human resource department with the focus to find right personnel and then conduct extensive in-house & out-side training to make them useful part of the shipping sector in general and our organisation in particular to get the productivity and meet the business requirement.
-- To improve performance appraisal system by involving IT for linkage of employees performance with UMA score card.
-- To develop linkage with reward & recognition for talents & merits with UMA Score card.
-- To develop "UMA Newsletter "for demonstrating our values, achievements, healthy competition etc.