ABAD MMC - OUR CLIENTS ARE THE BEST TO SAY ABOUT US

 

Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Heydarov, what is the history of ABAD MMC? What path has the Company traveled since the very establishment?

Natig Heydarov, General Director, ABAD MMC: The employees of our Company including me started labour activity in various foreign transport and logistic companies working in Azerbaijan. Later, when we got required experience we decided to set up a local transportation company with the geography covering the home market and international market in future. Of course, it was difficult business as there had been enough large foreign companies in the market. We faced strong competition. At that time the local transport companies mainly offered freight forwarding services.

As a newly formed company we could not afford immediate setting up of large-scale operation like our foreign competitors. The activity of ABAD MMC covered airshipment and container transportations. Being aware of the fact that favourable and successful operation in this business is impossible without covering the whole market, the Company's employees drew up projects so as to extend our presence in all possible areas. Otherwise, in conditions of such strong competition these areas may be conquered by our competitors. The coverage of the whole sector and ensured stable prices may provide a stable operation in this business.

 

CE: What is the list of services the Company renders? What sector of economy was especially successful for ABAD MMC?

Natig Heydarov: The Company's scope of activity mainly covers railway, motor and air transport. Indeed, recently air transportation got decreased after establishment of the Baku Cargo Terminal. Automatically, the major cargo flow shifted to this structure. In exclusive cases the Company dealt with removal services (transportation of personal stuff). Though it is not our speciality, experimenting is the feature inherent to our work. We like to try ourselves in various projects. Besides, ABAD MMC has the official license to work with dangerous cargoes such as chemical reagents. In particular, we delivered chemicals from Africa to meet the needs of petroleum companies working in our region. We took a direct participation in a very difficult project regarding transportation of one of the world's largest drilling rigs from Kurdamir to Nebitdag (Turkmenistan).

One of the main directions of our business is oil transportation in the home market. As the oil sector is state-operated we mainly cooperate with such structures as the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan, State Railways, and State Caspian Shipping Company. We are famous in the local market of oil supplies and transportation for our mobile operation along with exclusive capacity to deliver cargoes to hard-to-reach areas. Therefore, we immediately opened up the possibility to work with such companies in Azerbaijan as QARASU OPERATING, QOBUSTAN OPERATING, SHENQLI OPERATING, TECHNIP OVERSEAS (Shah Deniz Project), AZPETROL, and SALYAN OIL. These are the companies engaged in oil exploration in the Absheron Peninsula.

We understand our responsibility before our customers and take a sober view of our potentials. We can easily refuse from a contract we cannot fulfill by some reason in favour of a company that could cope with it better. Our Company took part, even if it was indirectly, in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline construction project and pertained to all large regional projects carried out within the framework of the energy strategy of Azerbaijan.

We are a member of the American Chamber of Commerce and take active part in its activity.

Last year we decided to include trading in our business. I mean direct supplies of oil products for needs of companies. It is profitable as we acquire time saving on the one hand, whereas on the other hand mediatory services become unnecessary. We have already launched a couple of projects in this direction. 

 

CE: How easy is it to work in the transport market of Azerbaijan in conditions of hard competition faced by both local and foreign companies?

Natig Heydarov: Difficulties are inherent to any business if there is lack of information and necessary knowledge. Our company keeps on working at self-improvement and studies all areas and peculiarities of this business. We have always enjoyed the timely support of the state. It is very important to know how to build up the process of working. Within the whole period of our activity we have not faced problems with either government bodies or corporate clients. All these facts show the reputation, the competitive ability and the image of ABAD MMC. 

 

CE: How active do you take part in execution of public contracts?

Natig Heydarov: Our works in the oil industry are mainly based on public contracts. The company participated in many tenders and succeeded in them. For instance, within the framework of the tender issued by SOCAR we collected residual cargoes of the State Company throughout the country. We have implemented this work within a month. We offered the most favourable conditions on both a price and timing of orders. Our Company is open for cooperation with all.

There are large state processes now where we hope to take part. As a local company that has gained a good image in the market we are looking forward to succeeding in these projects.

 

CE: The Company mainly works inside the country. Do you plan to show up on international markets?

Natig Heydarov: Well, first of all local companies do not export oil products. This business field is under direct supervision of the state. By this reason we deal with transportation of oil products from Azerbaijan, whereas in the home market we work both as a transport and trading company. As to operation in the oil sector, we successfully cooperate with some of our clients in the field of freights transportation to Georgia and Russia.

          

CE: How did the Company gain the trust of customers?

Natig Heydarov: It is a bit inconvenient to speak about ourselves, but our advantages are in punctuality, efficiency and maximum sincerity with clients. Informing a client and notifying him of all details is a part of our job. Customer should be aware of everything and get timely and mobile information about the location of cargo, reasons for possible delay, the time of arrival. Awareness of the client is one of the core principles of our work. We adhere to namely these standards in our work. Of course, we do face difficulties. Any of our clients is the best to say about ABAD MMC. 

 

CE: What near-term plans does the company have?

Natig Heydarov: The near-term projects of the company include moving to a new, roomier office that will enable to expand the personnel and the geography of our activity. Due to technical reasons, at the moment we have to refuse from some contracts, offers. The demand for our services is growing. We are interested in getting public contracts as this is a visiting card for any company as well as honour and prestige. The near-term strategy of the company is targeting at the international market. We have never had ambitions and just strive to perform our work in a qualified, timely and precise way. Now it is important for us not to allow the enhanced scope of works to influence their quality. We are creating a web-site of ABAD MMC that will ease the work of our customers and save their time. It is going to be a very convenient site as customers will not need to call us or visit us. All necessary information will be available on the site. All visitors will have the opportunity to send their request and get a timely response.

 

CE: What is your vision of future for the transport market in Azerbaijan and the niche of ABAD MMC in it?

Natig Heydarov: Such large regional projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, the revival of the Great Silk Way will contribute much to the development of this market in Azerbaijan.

I am sure ABAD MMC will always be a worthy and reliable partner and with dignity represent Azerbaijan in other countries in the near future. No matter what changes the Company undergoes in future, its structure will remain the same. In future we want to work in all areas where we will be able to perform our work in a qualified and precise way. We plan to expand our activity not only in the field of transportation and logistics but in other areas as well.

 

CE: Does the Company participate in charity actions, implementation of various social projects?

Natig Heydarov: Our Company actively participates in the traditional festival of the artistic creativity "Dan Ulduzu".   Having gained the international status this festival finds talented children from orphan asylums and boarding schools located not only in Azerbaijan but also in Turkey, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Georgia. We also render all possible assistance to asylums for mentally and physically disabled children.