The Hindu Business Line : DHL unveils $100-million air cargo facility in Hong Kong

DHL today launched its new Central Asia hub at the Hong Kong International Airport. Spread over more than 18,000 sq ft, the $100-million facility, capable of handling up to 440 tonnes per day, is the largest of its kind in the region and forms an important part of the company's long-term regional growth strategy.

Mr Stephen Ip, Secretary for Economic Development & Labour, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said at the opening ceremony, "Both the Government and the Airport Authority are firmly committed to providing a favourable environment for our cargo industry but we need investors to realise the business potential of this burgeoning market. The export cargo market is expected to grow at a spectacular rate of 13 per cent per annum in the next two decades, and in this respect I congratulate DHL on its smart decision to build the Central Asia hub in Hong Kong."

Dr David J. Pang, CEO, Airport Authority Hong Kong, said: "The opening of this hub has been very timely. With the installation of the Central Asia Hub, the Hong Kong International Airport becomes the hub of hubs within the region and the DHL's decision also affirms the strategic positioning of Hong Kong International Airport as an ideal location for cargo movement to and from major markets in the region."

Mr John Mullen, CEO of DHL's Air Express Division in Asia Pacific, said, "DHL has been experiencing a strong double-digit growth in Asia Pacific over the past five years and intra Asia-Pacific cargo volumes now account for close to 50 per cent of DHL Express' revenues in the region and is our fastest growing segment and the company therefore has been pursuing a growth strategy focusing on capacity building. With the opening of the new Central Asia hub, DHL becomes the only express and logistics company to operate a dedicated air cargo express facility in Hong Kong."

DHL also operates five other hubs in Bangkok, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo with gateways in major airports (including the one at New Delhi) in the region.

Piror to its official opening, the Centarl Asia hub was awarded a TAPA Class-A certification, raising the number of DHL's TAPA certified facilities to over 40. Also, parallel to logistics infrastructure development, DHL has been progressively expanding its dedicated air network. There is a proposal to increase the number of weekly freighter out of India from the present one (out of Delhi) to two (likely to be out of Mumbai).

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