Delivery and logistics company DHL Worldwide Express announced it is investing $10 million to expand its infrastructure in the Middle East region during 2002. This investment is mostly directed at its operations in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), in particular Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as its road network across the region. A major upgrade of two of its aircraft is also planned.
“Our investment for next year includes allocating four million dollars to further develop our operation in Saudi Arabia, two million dollars of which will go towards premises upgrades and retail expansions. $500,000 will be directed at further advance our Telecom and Information Technology (IT) infrastructure. An additional focus of our investment will be in increasing our Saudi national personnel component to 30 percent in 2002 and 40 percent in 2003,” said Phil Couchman, DHL Area Director Middle East.
”Large investments will also be directed at other markets in the region. “Our other investments in the region will include allocating $500,000 to expand our hub facilities in Bahrain, $400,000 in an airside facility in Abu Dhabi, $250,000 to extend the Dubai hub and a $500,000 expansion of the road network across the region,” Couchman added.
A one million dollar upgrade of two aircraft is also planned, much of which will go towards installing the latest technology airborne collision avoidance system and this, together with other navigation and communication equipment upgrades. “This investment demonstrates DHL's commitment to our Bahrain based fleet, which in 2002 will be a quarter the size of Gulf Air," added Couchman.
This recent announcement by DHL Middle East comes on top of DHL Worldwide's $300 million investment to enhance its infrastructure in the Asia Pacific region. The investment will be mainly directed at major markets in Greater China, Japan and Singapore.
DHL is currently the only delivery and logistics company in the Middle East that owns and operates its own fleet out of Bahrain International Airport. The fleet consists of seven aircraft along with an extensive land transport network that includes heavy vehicles and facilities.
In the Middle East, DHL was the first air express company to operate in the region, in 1975. Four years later it established the region's first air express airline and was the first to register its freighter aircraft in the Gulf.
Established in 1969, DHL Worldwide Express offers express deliveries in addition to e-commerce fulfillment and logistics solutions. The DHL network links 120,000 destinations in over 228 countries and employs 69,000 people. DHL's majority shareholder is Deutsche Post World Net, followed by Lufthansa and Japan Airlines. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
