The GEFCO Group is opening a branch in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, thereby strengthening its position in Central and Eastern Europe. Due to its specific geographical location, Bulgaria acts as a bridge between Western Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East, facilitating logistics flows for the automotive sector in Europe. Aleksander Raczyński will head GEFCO Bulgaria.
Established in December 2011, the GEFCO Bulgaria branch already provides a wide range of services, particularly in the field of automotive logistics. The subsidiary very quickly opened a vehicle center in Lozen, southeast of Sofia, where vehicles are grouped before distribution. The branch signed its first contract with Sophia France Auto (SFA), the official importer of the Peugeot brand in Bulgaria. As the exclusive partner for the logistics of vehicles managed by SFA, GEFCO Bulgaria handles their distribution on the local market. New clients of the branch also include dealers of the Citroën, Volkswagen, and General Motors brands.
Ultimately, GEFCO Bulgaria plans to include overseas transport services (sea and air) in its offer, among others, between Bulgaria and the Middle and Far East.
– GEFCO Bulgaria, located between the branches in Romania and Turkey, allows for close cooperation between these countries and fosters trade with Europe – explains Aleksander Raczyński.
GEFCO is currently present in 15 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
At the beginning of April, GEFCO Bulgaria and GEFCO Germany jointly launched a new groupage transport line between Sofia and Stuttgart. BASF, already a client of the branch in Germany, is the first to use this new weekly connection. The transport of products takes 4 days, and their distribution on the domestic market takes 24 hours. The flows are carried out under controlled temperature and fully comply with the requirements of the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).
– The transport and logistics services market in Bulgaria is very dynamic and offers great development potential – claims Aleksander Raczyński. – We plan to quickly expand our operations and client portfolio by offering them our know-how in logistics services for the electronics, consumer goods, and industrial equipment industries. We also intend to strengthen our relationships with small carriers in Bulgaria, thereby contributing to development on the local market.