adminMotoring Correspondent
GOODYEAR’S African footprint is the most comprehensive of all tyre manufacturers on the continent, its rubber rolling from Swaziland up to Kenya on the east coast, Namibia to Congo on the west and over all the stretches of savannah and skyscrapers in between. Mozambique is one such sub-Saharan country in which Goodyear has great confidence. With its soft sands and crystal waters, some call it paradise on earth; to those battling corruption or still reeling from its revolutionary history, it has been cursed as hell. But for newly appointed Goodyear country manager, Victor Soares and his team, Mozambique has the potential to be one of Africa’s best success stories and Goodyear plans to be part of its bright business future.
“Short term, our aim is to improve efficiencies and to find the most beneficial route to market our product. The longer-term vision is to expand Goodyear’s operations in order to capitalise on a double-digit GDP growth in the country. More importantly, we are striving to cement Goodyear as a truly sustainable company here in Mozambique; compliant, ethical and driven by client satisfaction,” Soares said.
“We employ 78 permanent staff countrywide, but this can grow to 120 seasonal workers for the sugar industry, depending on client needs. My immediate team includes Ana Rita Ferreira and Alfredo Monteiro in Maputo and central Mozambique Rui Ha Taka . Our head office is in the capital of Maputo.”
Goodyear has already been operating for more than 25 years in Mozambique. Its distribution channel and services partner, Trentyre first opened its doors in 2000 and then, in 2005, opened a branch in Beira that quickly rose to contribute 50 percent of the company’s turnover in the country.
“Another branch is being planned for Tete, the mining centre of Mozambique within the next few years and this is important to secure a slice in the Off-the-Road mining business going forward.
“Goodyear’s current scope includes a mixed market share of 15-18 percent in Mozambique. We have two branches in Maputo and Beira and another supporting the massive aluminium smelter, Mozal and its service providers in the duty-free zone near Matola.
Trentyre has small distributors in other provinces as well as nine on-sites operations, at Coca-Cola, Unitrans, WBHO and Mozal.
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