DHL Worldwide Express has launched a Web site for Hong Kong customers [ www.dhl . com.hk] with a full range of features in English and traditional and simplified Chinese. It claims it is the first bilingual air-express industry site for SAR users. 'We are living in cyberspace today as more and more transactions are being carried out electronically,' DHL International (Hong Kong) general manager Lee Wai-tong said. Launch of the site had brought the company closer to its customers. The site, linked to a Unix database, allows customers to arrange package and document pick-up, and track shipment status. Separately, DHL Worldwide Express said it expected the amount of e-commerce business would grow about 40 per cent a year. About US$1.2 billion of its business was processed on-line. DHL said a survey of industry leaders at its World Express & Mail Conference in Brussels indicated 58 per cent believed electronic commerce would drive growth over the next five years. The second-greatest driver would be alliances between postal and express carriers, according to 42 per cent of the attendees polled. DHL entered an alliance with Deutsche Post in December by allowing Deutsche Post to buy a 25 per cent stake in DHL. It also entered an alliance with the US postal service. The agreements would make DHL's international express services available to retail customers through postal outlets. DHL executive chairman Patrick Lupo has said the company would sign six other agreements with national post offices in Europe and Asia. DHL said 62 per cent of the attendees polled believed the creation of the euro single European currency would help the industry by allowing greater market transparency and increased trading. Only 5 per cent of attendees polled believed the euro would have a negative impact, citing higher prices and more difficult administrative procedures. In another development, DHL said it had signed a deal with Russia's Aeroflot on the delivery of packages weighing 50 kilograms or more. 'Signing the agreement allows DHL to offer clients a series of advantages when sending packages, most importantly, reduced delivery time,' it said. The courier said Aeroflot's direct flights to most European cities and to many in the United States and Asia would allow it to halve delivery time to many destinations. Working with Aeroflot would allow same-day deliveries to many destinations in Europe and the former Soviet Union. DHL delivers to 251 cities in Russia, where it has worked with Aeroflot for four years. The courier also has agreements with other Russian carriers including Transaero, Arkhangelsk Airlines, Sibir Airlines, Vnukovo Airlines, Volga-Air and Nizhgorodsky Airlines.