A.R.S. BAKELS BV

Wassing is the name of a Dutch Family from Tilburg (NL). In Tunisia, North-Africa, this name is only known as the very first international haulage company that based itself under brand-new international legislation (TIR/IRU Genève) under Tunisian law in Tunisia. Before acceptance by the Tunisian Government of its international minutes of incorporation, Wassing was temporarily admitted in Tunisia under the "Confection Law" (textile production), called "72-38", meaning: Law-number 38 of the year 1972. 72-38 allowed international companies to invest in Tunisia, without paying taxes and repatriate the profits back to their own homeland. Wassing moved their goods: Raw materials for the confection industry to Tunisia and after a little while: Ready product (clothiers, on hangers too) back to Europe. Wassing became the "Guide du Marchais" (Marketleader) in Transportation and Aernout Bakels was the first Wassing Director, based in Tunisia. He and his family lived for 5 years in that country, which was also the homebase for transportation between Europe and Algeria and Libya. Aernout Bakels became official consultant in Transportation and Forwarding for both Governments too, because of our country's status of largest transportation of the world.

Since the Arabic Spring bursted out from Tunisia to neighboring countries too, loud calls are heard from everywhere and anywhere in Tunisia, that "Old and reliable friends of Tunisia should return for help". This counts foremost for Aernout Bakels, owner now too of his former competitor Breda Transport, to re-install the GROUP back in Tunisia, using skills and experience with people of good will.

Aernout Bakels asked permission to the Wassing Family to use their family-name and -logo as brandname in Tunisia again. This was permitted by Mister Pieter-Jan Wassing, son of the former founder of Wassing (Jan Wassing) with the only remark, that the present activities of P.-J. Wassing and his family have nothing to do with the "refreshment" of the Wassing-name in Tunisia.

It is to be foreseen, if customers are willing to pay for it, to rebuild the Wassing-identity in transportation in Tunisia in the years to come. New combinations of collaboration and promotion of the country Tunisia and its strong links with the Netherlands, therefore need to be started with wisdom and courage.