Saudi SNAS/DHL recorded an 80 percent increase in imports shipped to China in 2002. SNAS DHL is facilitating trade relations between the two countries through its China First program, comprising of 40 offices serving 1,000 towns and cities across the country.
“China entered the World Trade Organization in December 2001 and in less than a year we have seen an 80 percent increase in consignments air expressed to Saudi Arabia by DHL,” said SNAS/DHL Country Manager in the Kingdom, Harlis Malkic.
The Chinese economy is undergoing rapid transformation. In 2001 total import and export volume was $400 billion. Major stimulus is coming from foreign investors galvanized by China's entry to the World Trade Organization. In 2001 foreign direct investments reached more than $40 billion.
In 1980 DHL became the first international air express company to operate in China and from the beginning has worked with Sinotrans as its only partner nationwide. n addition, DHL operates bonded warehouses in Beijing, Shanghai and Qong Cho.
DHL Worldwide Express became the first air express company to begin operations in the Middle East. The company invested 2.8 million Saudi riyals in the DHL Saudi Arabia IT Data Center (KSADC) in Dammam, to upgrade the facility to a Center of Excellence for information technology.
SNAS is the largest air express company and the first global courier company to operate in Saudi Arabia with a fleet of nine aircraft operating over 430 flights monthly. DHL has a fleet of over 260 aircraft.
In Asia-Pacific/Middle East alone, DHL serves 51 countries and territories, operates more than 1,300 stations, employs more than 18,000 personnel and operates about 3,900 transport vehicles. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
