GARP – C.F.GamaAfonso, DespachanteOficial, Ldais a limited company, with a share capital of 7,000,000.00 MT (seven million Meticais), and has been providing services in the field of customs clearance of goods since July 1994.
This company is the result of the transformation of the private office of the clearing agent C.F GamaAfonso which, in July 1994, was the first office authorised to carry out this private activity in Mozambique, following Decree 35/93, of the 30thof December 1993.
In March 1997, a company was established between C.F. Gama and Rui E. Paredes da Silva, and in June 2004, when 17 of its customs technicians received their licences after sitting an exam following an internal training course, its memorandum and articles of association were once again altered due to the inclusion of these clearing agents in the company.
GARP also expanded its services to the central and northern regions of the country in 2004, opening branches in Manica, Beira, Nacala and Nampula. The Nampula branch was closed down a year later due to the difficulties found in the field, making it impossible to perform this type of activity, which must be carried out based on specific ethical principles and free from legal and/or fiscal problems.
In 2004, GARP also invested in developing its software, with a consultancy from Ernst & Young and its partnership with PHC Africa, which was implemented in February 2005. The software has been upgraded and improved a number of times since then, always taking into consideration the internal needs and, particularly, the needs of its clients.
In 2008, due to the significant investments in the Tete region, GARP entered into a partnership with a local customs broker and began its operations in Tete. GARP officiallyopened its branch in Tete in July 2013.
GARP currently has fifteen clearing agents as members, namely: C.F. GamaAfonso and RuiParedes da Silva, majority partners who re-started this activity in 1994, both of whom have many years of experience,EduardaSilva,Aline Afonso, AngelinoNhacalangue, the current managing partners, AlbertoMalache, AntónioCabral, ArmindoTinga, BrunoMoça, RobertoNhate,SérgioGuambe, MafaldaAmado, Barros Marques, MamadIssáandSérgioAssubuji.
Customs and the import and export systems are undergoing a process of in-depth transformation and, the import and export systems also have some complexities and procedures that are not common in the countries supplying the merchandise. Therefore, GARP’s main objective is to seek to provide our clients, and the suppliers of goods, all the information they require, supporting them in preparing the documentation so that the companies do not incur fines or container park or storage fees due to late clearance or delays in removal of the goods.
Specific departments within GARP deal with the exemption and fiscal benefits system, consultancy on customs-related matters and with customs clearance itself. The finance department is available to resolve any immediate issues relating to this area. The IT system, which allows for control of the service, has been developed to be able to send/ provide clients the most varied pertinent information that may be requested.
GARP commends itself on having among its portfolio of clients a series of national and multinational companies of acknowledged repute, with which it has a relationship of trust through a lot of communication and information, in its attempt to always come up with solutions to issues as soon as they arise and/or foresee possible logistical problems. GARP believes in the motto: “good and transparent communication is the basis for a close business relationship”.
GARP has offices inMaputo (head office), RessanoGarcia (Terminal also known as KM4), Vilankulos, Beira, Manica, Tete and Nacala, all connected online with the head office, and also at Multimodal and TIAR (air cargo Terminal). It is scheduled to open in Pemba in the first half of 2019. GARP’s dispersal throughout the country allows integrated customs clearance of goods as well as consultancy services to be provided, in this field, in the Northern, Central and Southern regions.
In May 2017 GARP launched its website (institucional and for clients) and started testing clients placing direct orders. Quite soon, GARP expects all clients to be placing orders and doing verifications, of their workflow and financial situation, through the website. Through this website clients may also obtain standard reports or reports adapted to their needs, with logistics information of relevance to their activity.
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