Quality networking in China
Industry Reports by Synergy Media Specialists
Headed by remarkable growth in China, the economies of the region remain prosperous. As Western countries continue to post minimal economic gains, the shift in global trade towards Asia is being helped by regional supply and demand dynamics. Eight of the 10 major ports in the world are located in East Asia, the largest of which is Shanghai, followed closely by Singapore and Hong Kong.
Global logistics providers play a crucial role in helping with the flow of goods between cities and countries in Asia. As China's growth continues to generate a wide variety of logistics services, Nippon Express has established local hubs in China to form a country-wide network specifically designed to satisfy these requirements.
"Considering the amount of trade and container movement that takes place in the Asian region, the expansion of our logistics services in China and the Asia-Pacific region has become one of the main pillars of our global strategy," says Jiro Nakamura, executive vice-president and chief managing officer of Nippon Express.
Divided into a global five-hub system (the Americas, Europe, East Asia, South Asia/Oceania and Japan), Nippon Express' global network is extensive. The company is present in more than 394 locations in 37 countries and understands customer requirements within the global logistics sector better than most.
Switching transport from land, rail and air, referred to as "modal shift", is often the most cost-effective and fastest way for clients to move goods. Nippon Express promotes co-operation between companies and has successfully implemented numerous cases of modal shifts throughout its global five-hub system.
Established in 1979, Nippon Express' Hong Kong office has been at a leading position in the company's operations for the entire East Asia region. Excluding Japan, the combined size of Nippon Express' facilities in Shanghai, Hong Kong and the rest of China represent more than 50 per cent of the company's total facilities in Asia and Oceania.
"China is a vitally important market for Nippon Express and is of key strategic importance for us," Nakamura says. "Hong Kong's geographic position as a gateway to the Chinese mainland and its role as a regional hub for Southeast Asia encouraged us to strengthen our position in Hong Kong. The new warehouse facility which we recently opened clearly demonstrates the commitment we have to our customers in Hong Kong."