Industry constantly on the move

GOVERNMENT statistics show that more than 200,000 people, or about 6 per cent of Hong Kong's workforce, are involved directly or indirectly in the logistics and supply chain industries.

That explains why the sector is viewed as one of the 'four pillars' of the local economy and why the enormous volume of exports from south China's factories can be distributed with unparalleled efficiency to all parts of the world.

According to official figures, trade and logistics enterprises accounted for 26.3 per cent of Hong Kong's gross domestic product last year. This represents healthy growth, and there remains widespread optimism that logistics services will continue to expand.

K.Y. Leung, president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), said the scope of the industry involved far more than the basic transport of goods.

'The logistics industry continually utilises new technology and streamlines systems, so we need knowledgeable, well-trained people to carry out the processes,' he said.

The past decade has seen a significant shift in the way the business is handled. Companies have opted to form strategic partnerships which can develop into highly involved networks. Mr Leung said this was particularly noticeable on the mainland, where Hong Kong logistics companies had developed service networks and made themselves indispensable to their global clients.