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Category: Logistics

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Logistics news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Australia’s Cold Store Operator Seeks Partner for Asian Expansion

    Australia’s Cold Store Operator Seeks Partner for Asian Expansion

    Australia’s largest privately-ˇowned cold storage operator, Oxford Cold Storage is seeking an operational and financial partner to expand its world-ˇclass cold storage services across Asia.

    In a global first, Oxford is piloting a system of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) in a third party temperature controlled environment to ensure accuracy, improve safety standards and allow for 24-ˇhour operation, delivering significant competitive advantage in the industry leader’s push for international expansion.

    Founded by the Fleiszig and Stern families over four decades ago, Oxford is a third-ˇgeneration business, now operated by brothers, Paul and Mark Fleiszig, alongside their cousin, Rodney Fleiszig. At the helm are brothers Stephen, Gabor and Luis Fleiszig. “Oxford is extremely well positioned to take advantage of the thriving Asian middle-ˇclass’ skyrocketing demands for produce. As this demographic develops, there is less time for people to wait for fresh food in a traditional market sense, so cold storage is becoming a vital component of the food chain,” said Oxford Director, Paul Fleiszig.

    Paul Profile Pic copy[3IxI]

    “We are at the forefront of logistics technology, designing our own systems with growth in mind to ensure scalability for the next phase, supported by our expertise in data mining and high-ˇdensity operation.” Delivering an annual turnover of $80 million within a robust growth industry (5% p.a. in Australia), Oxford was the first company to introduce a real-ˇtime radio frequency track and trace warehouse management system in 1995.

    “A key priority for us is staying ahead of the logistics technology curve through continuous improvement across warehouse operations. Our R&D team is responsible for ensuring we exceed national and international regulations, meeting the increased need for “paddock to plate” tracing while delivering the best possible service for our customers,” Paul explained.

    As the operator of the largest third-ˇparty temperature controlled warehouse in the country and 20th largest operator globally, Oxford offers racked storage for over 175,000 pallets, with the capacity to freeze 12,000 cartons and carcasses daily. Mike Robbins, Oceania Head of Physical Logistics at Nestlé Australia Ltd said: “Oxford Cold Storage is the most innovative operator in the Australian temperature controlled supply chain. The business invests heavily in technology, offering benefits within and beyond the warehouse.”

    “Oxford is extremely agile and are able to react quickly to changing customer requirements. Through the application of flexible IT solutions applied to operations optimisation Oxford have been able to deliver end to end supply chain efficiencies in warehousing, transport and inventory management.”

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  • Bolloré Logistics the Only Visionary in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Third-Party Logistics Providers, Worldwide

    Bolloré Logistics the Only Visionary in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Third-Party Logistics Providers, Worldwide

    Bolloré Logistics* is the Only Visionary in the 2016 Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Third-Party Logistics Providers, Worldwide, published on May 5th.
    Gartner’s Magic Quadrants are a tactical tool used by decision makers to evaluate the largest third-party logistics providers (3PL) and their abilities to be a global preferred provider.
    “To be positioned as the Only Visionary in this year’s Magic Quadrant is a very positive result for us,” said Thierry Ehrenbogen, Chief Executive Officer at Bolloré Logistics. “We believe this recognition reaffirms our constant search for improvement and our determination to deliver the highest quality of customer service through innovative approaches.”
    Bolloré Logistics was one of 16 third-party logistics companies that meet Gartner’s criteria based on completeness of vision and ability to execute. This year marks the third consecutive year Bolloré Logistics has made it into the quadrant. In April 2015, Bolloré Logistics was recognized as a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for 3PL, Europe.
    *Bolloré Logistics formally SDV

  • Drone deliveries now possible in Korea

    Drone deliveries now possible in Korea

    Flying drones for business will become legal in South Korea from next month, allowing the possibility of drone deliveries.

    Laws about drone flights have been revised by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Previously, aeronautical laws permitted only a limited number of businesses to use drones for work related to agriculture, photography and surveys.

    Now businesses will be able to use drones so long as their use does not pose harm to public safety, lives, property or national interests such as security and defence.

    Also modified is the stipulation for drones not needing approval and inspection from “below dead weight of 12kg” to “below maximum take-off weight of 25kg”.

    Drones that are flown at the same location will need only one approval for a maximum of six months. Within certain limits, flying drones out of sight and night flights will also be allowed.

    These amendments will allow business owners to grow their businesses through drone deliveries.

    Original reporting by Korea Bizwire.

  • Kerry Logistics Appoints New Managing Director

    Kerry Logistics Appoints New Managing Director

    Kerry Logistics Network Limited has appointed Daniel Hegwein as the new Managing Director for Belgium and the Netherlands.

    Effective immediately, Hegwein will oversee the company’s activities in the Benelux region from the Kerry Logistics office at Brussels Airport in Zavantem.

    Hegwein has more than 30 years of experience in the logistics sector, having previously worked for a number of international logistics providers in Hong Kong, Germany, Australia, Switzerland, Taiwan and most recently Belgium.

    The main business fields for Kerry Logistics in Belgium and the Netherlands are air and ocean freight logistics as well as warehousing services and fiscal representation.

    As the Managing Director for both countries, Hegwein will focus on streamlining the operations and sales activities for Kerry Logistics in the Benelux region.

  • FedEx Acquires TNT Express

    FedEx Acquires TNT Express

    FedEx Corporation, FedEx Acquisition B.V. and TNT Express N.V. have jointly announced that FedEx has acquired TNT Express. The €4.4 billion acquisition combines the strengths of the companies – the world’s largest air express network and an unparalleled European road network, which will expand the existing FedEx portfolio and reshape the global transportation and logistics industry.

    “This acquisition is a significant accomplishment and marks the beginning of a new era, filled with promise for our people, customers and shareowners,” said Frederick W. Smith, Chairman and CEO of FedEx. “We are proud to celebrate the joining of two iconic companies and the approximately 400,000 team members who are committed to serving customers around the world.”

    “The timing of this historic event is important, particularly in the current market environment where global e-commerce is growing at double-digit rates,” Smith added. “Adding TNT’s capabilities to our existing world-class suite of services, including GENCO and the recently re-launched FedEx CrossBorder, will further expand the ability of FedEx to support business connections around the world.”

    “Over our 43 year history, FedEx has repeatedly reinvented and revolutionized the industry, from the first overnight express service backed by a money-back guarantee to the invention of internet shipping. And just as we revolutionised the U.S. domestic parcel business through the acquisition and development of what is now FedEx Ground, the acquisition of TNT will change the way customers view FedEx around the world,” Smith continued.

    “We believe that this strategic acquisition will add significant value for FedEx shareowners, team members and customers around the globe, particularly in Europe where we will establish a strong new competitor,” said Alan B. Graf, Jr., FedEx Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “The TNT team members bring 70 years of diverse experience, which combined with that of FedEx team members, will make this integration a success.”

    Now that FedEx has acquired TNT Express, the integration process will begin immediately. The FedEx track record of successful acquisition integrations in the U.S. and globally will serve the combined companies well to leverage investments in technology, infrastructure, facilities and operational capabilities to position the combined companies for long-term growth and success.

    In the near term, customers can expect to interact with each company as they always have and receive the world-class service they have come to expect. Once the integration is complete, FedEx expects customers to enjoy an expanded global offering that draws upon the breadth of expertise from both companies.

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  • YCH inks pact with Indonesian food distributor

    YCH inks pact with Indonesian food distributor

    Supply chain company YCH Group’s subsidiary YCH Indonesia has signed an agreement with a business unit of Sekar Group, one of Indonesia’s largest importers and distributors of food products.

    The memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pangan Lestari was inked on the sidelines of a business mission co-organised by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore and the Singapore Business Federation.

    Announcing the pact in a statement yesterday, IE Singapore said it brought the two companies together last year, given Singapore- based YCH’s interest to expand further in Indonesia.

    Under the agreement, both companies will jointly develop integrated cold-chain supply management to facilitate retail, catering and distribution fulfilment.

    The MOU signing was witnessed by Ms Sim Ann, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, and Finance.

    Ms Sim, who also oversees issues related to small and medium-sized enterprises in the Committee on the Future Economy, is leading the business mission to Surabaya, Indonesia, which started on Wednesday and ends today.

    The mission comprises over 20 business representatives from 13 SMEs across business services, environment services, as well as the financial and manufacturing sectors.

    Ms Sim said in the statement: “Given the limited size of Singapore’s domestic market, many SME leaders are actively considering internationalisation as a means to bring their business to the next level.”

    She added that Indonesia’s young population and growing middle class present good opportunities for local SMEs.

    Indonesia is Singapore’s second- largest trading partner among Asean member states, with total trade at $59 billion last year. Singapore was Indonesia’s top foreign investor last year, with total realised investments amounting to $8 billion, IE Singapore noted.

    “Surabaya and East Java offer exciting growth opportunities, especially in sectors like trading, services and manufacturing,” said IE Singapore assistant chief executive Tan Soon Kim.

    Surabaya has a population of 3.2 million and its economic growth reached 6.7 per cent in 2014, exceeding East Java province’s growth of 5.9 per cent.

    Separately, IE Singapore also announced the signing of a “first-ever” MOU with business associations in Lombardy, Italy – Confindustria Lombardia and Assolombarda – to help SMEs access the region. The two groups have a combined reach of 17,000 Italian enterprises across diverse sectors, IE Singapore noted.

    The collaboration is aimed at helping local companies tap business opportunities in Lombardy via partnerships, as well as linking up enterprises in Lombardy with Singapore firms to jointly access the South- east Asian market.

    IE Singapore said the focus areas include design innovation, fashion and consumer products, technology development, urban solutions and hospitality real estate.

  • 3 Things Investors Should Know About Singapore Post Limited Now

    3 Things Investors Should Know About Singapore Post Limited Now

    Singapore Post Limited is a postal and logistics services company. Its business is currently organised into three major segments: Mail, Logistics, and Retail & eCommerce.

    Here are three things about the company investors may want to know:

    1. Latest results

    Singapore Post had released its fourth-quarter and full-year results just last week. For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2016 (fiscal 2016), the company’s revenue had jumped by 25% to S$1.15 billion while the profit attributable to shareholders had grown by 58% to S$249 million.

    Singapore Post’s top-line had benefitted from new acquisitions and organic growth in its Logistics and Retail & eCommerce segments. The even faster profit growth meanwhile, had come on the back of one-off divestment gains. If that were stripped away, the company’s underlying net profit in fiscal 2016 would have been 4.1% lower than in the previous year.

    It’s worth noting too that Singapore Post’s cash flow performance had deteriorated from fiscal 2015, with both operating cash flow and free cash flow falling.

    2. Dividend history

    Singapore Post has had a long history of paying an annual dividend, which goes back all the way to fiscal 2003, the year it got listed. In fiscal 2003, Singapore Post paid a dividend of S$0.042 per share and has been paying an annual dividend ever since.

    The company’s dividend in fiscal 2016 is S$0.07 per share, which gives it a yield of 4.6% at its current share price of S$1.535.

    Singapore Post total dividend per share
    Source: Singapore Post

    3. Valuation

    Singapore Post is currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 14. For perspective, the company’s valuation had reached a peak of 31 in the last five years.  In addition, the PE of 14 is also near the lower end of Singapore Post’s valuation range over the last five years.

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  • BOLLORÉ TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS participates in the Breakbulk Europe Conference & Exhibition 2016

    BOLLORÉ TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS participates in the Breakbulk Europe Conference & Exhibition 2016

    Bolloré Transport & Logistics, one of the 10 world’s leading transport and logistics groups, will be present as an exhibitor at the next Breakbulk Conference, from 23-26 May in Antwerp, Belgium.

    This major event in Europe gathers companies involved in the shipping of heavy-lift, project cargo and traditional breakbulk cargoes. On this occasion, Bolloré Transport & Logistics is showcasing its tailormade solutions through its different brands : Bolloré Logistics, for industrial projects logistics, and Bolloré Ports for cargo handling and shipping services.

    BOLLORÉ LOGISTICS, an expert in Industrial Projects Logistics

    Customers and suppliers will have the opportunity to meet Bolloré Logistics Industrial Projects teams coming from Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. This will also be the opportunity to share the latest information on our group where greater synergies, both commercially and operationally have been established between the regional projects divisions in Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States.

    Bolloré Logistics proposes tailor-made solutions in sectors such as oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical, mining, construction and equipment and in various other industries. At a time of continued turbulence in the oil and gas market, the impact of which can be keenly felt in various project sectors, we believe that now more than ever we need to stay strong and resilient as a group. “We need to remain even closer to our customers in this sector by travelling this difficult path together and looking for project solutions that can mitigate and reduce costs and add efficiency to the overall supply chain” said Philippe LEJEUNE, Industrial Projects Europe Director.

    One area that Bolloré Logistics does foresee as having significant growth in the coming years, especially in the developing world, is the power sector. With this in mind, Bolloré Logistics has created at the start of 2016 a global industry vertical specializing in Energy and Renewables which will look to implement efficient project logistics solutions in industries such as wind, solar, hydro, thermal as well as standard diesel and nonrenewable power.

    “This vertical will work closely with all our project divisions worldwide where our footprint and expertise mean that we are able to meet the logistics challenge of energy projects in even the most demanding of locations” added Philippe LEJEUNE.

    Our unique operational solutions meet stringent specifications requested by the major global players and the success of each project is supported, among other things, by this network of experts in Europe as well as all over the Bolloré Logistics network in the world.

    BOLLORÉ PORTS

    Present in the maritime sector for over 90 years, Bolloré Ports has developed the first network of shipping agencies in Africa and the Indian Ocean, known primarily under the brand of AFRITRAMP. With a network of 100 agencies (75 of which are located in Africa), Bolloré Ports handles in excess of 9,000 vessel calls per year and in addition provides a range of services customized to regular international shipping lines, tramp operators as well as charterers.

    In France, Bolloré Ports is an important player in specialized port handling operations, with a presence in 14 major ports and the handling of 250,000 TEUs per year. Bolloré Ports is the first port infrastructure operator in Africa, with 16 concessions.

    Being part of Bolloré Logistics and Transportation allows Bolloré Ports to offer to both local and international customers a wide range of complementary services (storage yards, warehousing, logistics, inland haulage).

  • Pos Indonesia to expand storage facilities

    Pos Indonesia to expand storage facilities

    State postal service firm PT Pos Indonesia plans to expand its warehouse facilities from 3 hectares to 3 hectares to improve its logistics services.

    The land acquisition and development is estimated to cost US$250 million to $300 million.

    PT Pos Indonesia president director Gilarsi Wahju Setijono did not say how the firm would finance the land procurement, but did say the company was in talks with other state-owned enterprises ( SOEs ) for asset swaps. The company has many assets in strategic locations that it could exchange for larger plots of land in other locations.

    “We are asking them to exchange their plots, such as at the airport or seaport with our assets in strategic places,” Gilarsi said.

    Despite having assets in strategic places, PT Pos is struggling with increasing expenditure that is eating away at its profits. It posted Rp 16 billion ( US$ 1.2 million ) in profit last year.

    “Our revenue increased a bit from Rp 4.3 trillion ( US$ 324 million ) in 2014 to Rp 4.6 trillion ( US$ 326 million ) in 2015, but our expenditure increased more than our revenue,” Gilarsi said.

    PT Pos is currently conducting restructuring in its logistics business. The company will also revive its financial services business, such as offering money transfers and utilizing postmen as payment agents in the next four years.

    “Sixty percent of the Indonesia population do not use online banking. We’ve got many branches and will employ our postmen as payment agents,” he said.

  • New Road Freight Service from Singapore to Bangkok

    New Road Freight Service from Singapore to Bangkok

    Bolloré Logistics recently introduced its new road service from Singapore to Bangkok, Thailand. The key objective is to offer customers the fastest door-to-door transit time for Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) cargo on a weekly basis.

    This new service uniquely compliments our already existing set of transport and logistics offers and will especially serve sectors such as retail, aerospace, or healthcare. The twice-weekly departures and the speed of the service (3.5 days door-to-door delivery) at a very competitive price make this service almost thrice as fast the traditional LCL, and very comparable to the airfreight door-to-door transit time, while at a reduced cost.

    Security System

    The cargo is transported via secured vehicles equipped with GPS tracking systems. The vehicles are also under the supervision of a 24/7 command center, CCTV integrated with GPS installed inside the containers. Also taking automatic pictures once the container’s doors are opened, those will be sent in real time via GPRS network to the server.

    Equipped with enhanced security features such as an E-lock security mechanism located inside the container door, an immobilizer, a panic button, hearing-in devices, and alarm buzzing, our customers’ cargo is safe and secure. Furthermore, the E-lock security mechanism can only be locked and unlocked by SMS, barcode scanner, or a unique keypad.

    IT Features

    This service also offers full traceability with the Proof of Delivery (POD) inputted directly in our system: LINK, bringing customers full visibility and control over their shipments.
    Value-Added Services

    Bolloré Logistics’ value-added service options at Bangkok’s warehouse before delivery include features allowing the cargo to be cleared directly at our Bonded Container Freight Station (CFS) facilities in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia in order to avoid customs blockage and delays at the border and to facilitate lift-on, lift-off (LOLO) & customs issues.

    “We are excited to offer this new service to our customers. With regular shipments and LINK’s full traceability out of Singapore, this service is a very attractive offer,” states Franco Montalbano, TSL Worldwide Director at Bolloré Logistics.

    “This is a great solution for customers looking for an alternative which is both faster than LCL ocean shipments and cheaper than regular airfreight shipments,” adds Yves Laforgue, Director for South East Asia at Bolloré Logistics.

  • LF Logistics opens giant Singapore e-commerce facility

    LF Logistics opens giant Singapore e-commerce facility

    LF Logistics has opened a 1-million-square-foot logistics facility in Singapore, the largest automated and customs bonded distribution warehouse in the city state that will target surging e-commerce growth in Asia.

    The nine-story center is located in West Jurong and is the company’s largest distribution facility in Southeast Asia, able to store up to 130,000 pallets with a throughput of 550 pallets per hour, aimed at meeting the fast-changing needs of brands and retailers in the region.

    “Our logistics business has been a bright spot with double-digit growth,” said Spencer Fung, the CEO of Li & Fung group. He did not provide an investment amount.

    According to the recent Asia Pacific Online Retail Forecast, 2015 To 2020, total online retail revenue will nearly double in Asia Pacific from $733 billion in 2015 to $1.4 trillion in 2020, a compound annual growth rate of 14.3 percent over the next five years.

    The total online retail revenues in just five markets of Asia Pacific — China, India, Japan, South Korea and Australia — surpass the combined figure for online retail in the U.S. and Western Europe combined.

    Joseph Phi, president of LF Logistics, said cross-border trade was expected to rise even faster with the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Community and the pending Trans-Pacific Partnership.

    “Our new logistics facility is well positioned to serve Singapore, as well as the broader Asia region and beyond. We see this facility as a gateway to the world,” he said.

    Although China dominates the e-commerce headlines, Southeast Asia is one of the markets of the future, said Steven Li, director of strategic partnerships for Cainiao, the logistics platform of Chinese online giant Alibaba Group.

    “Alibaba merged with Lazada recently, the largest online marketplace in Southeast Asia, and we believe the e-commerce market in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand will explode in two or three years,” he said at the Cargo Facts Asia conference in Hong Kong.

    Following the opening of the LF Logistics facility, Beh Swan Gin, chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board, also highlighted the potential of the region.

    “The burgeoning middle class in Southeast Asia will drive consumer demand for more sophisticated products and services,” he said. “This new LF Logistics facility in Singapore is well-placed to address this opportunity. It will also enable the company to harness Singapore’s strong base of supply chain expertise to build differentiating competencies in e-commerce and omni-channel logistics.”

    Singapore Post has been quick to jump on the e-commerce train, and over the past two years, the group has been ramping up its regional logistics capabilities with new or expanded facilities, including the development of a $145 million fully integrated regional e-commerce logistics hub in Singapore that is expected to start operating in mid-2016. SingPost currently has more than 20 warehousing and fulfilment centers in the region.

    Alibaba Group has invested more than $200 million in a partnership with SingPost through a series of initiatives aimed at expanding its e-commerce logistics platform across Asia-Pacific. Alibaba increased its equity stake in the group to 14.51 percent.

    In a second initiative, Alibaba last year acquired a 34 percent stake in SingPost subsidiary Quantium Solutions International for $68 million, with SingPost holding the majority 66 percent share. QSI is a provider of end-to-end e-commerce logistics, warehouse and fulfilment services in Asia Pacific with a network spanning 10 countries.

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  • Indonesian charter operator orders 30 Bell Jetranger X

    Indonesian charter operator orders 30 Bell Jetranger X

    Indonesia’s helicopter register and Bell Helicopters’ order book have both gained a significant boost, with news that operator PT Whitesky Aviation has ordered 30 new single-engine 505 Jetranger Xs.

    The aircraft will be used for air taxi operations throughout Indonesia and its more than 14,000 islands.

    PT Whitesky Aviation is a Jakarta based company specialising in non-scheduled (charter) flight. The company currently operates a fleet of six Bell Helicopter aircraft, including three Bell 429s and three Bell 407s.

    “This signing is testament to the growing demand for the Bell 505, especially in the corporate and VIP sectors,” said Matt Hasik, executive vice president of commercial business for Bell Helicopters. “There are now more than 380 letters of intent around the globe, and more than 130 Bell 505 LOIs in the Asia Pacific Region alone.”

    The Bell 505 is the company’s long mooted Bell Jetranger 206 entry-level replacement. With a cruise speed of 125 knots (232 km/h), range of 360 nautical miles (667 km) and useful load of 1,500 pounds (608 kg), the Bell 505 is designed to be safe and easy to fly while remaining affordably priced.

  • Panalpina Transforms Global Communications Infrastructure with BT

    Panalpina Transforms Global Communications Infrastructure with BT

    BT has announced a contract with Panalpina, one of the world’s leading freight forwarding and logistics companies, to transform and manage its global communications infrastructure. The transformation will enable Panalpina’s 15,000 employees to better communicate and collaborate internally and with their customers. This supports the company’s vision to work closer with its clients to build smart and efficient end-to-end logistics solutions.

    BT will overhaul Panalpina’s network infrastructure, currently sourced from more than a dozen domestic and regional providers, and migrate it into a single integrated platform, connecting 500 offices in more than 75 countries. BT will also provide services from its BT One Voice portfolio, to converge voice and data on a single platform.

    The new network will be a hybrid infrastructure, based on BT’s IP Connect and Internet Connect services, combining the reliability and security of IP-based Virtual Private Networks (VPN) with the flexibility of Internet connections. BT’s services will underpin the continued implementation of Panalpina’s new global enterprise resource planning (ERP) and transportation management systems, which require optimal end-to-end control of the infrastructure.

    Additional services, such as BT Connect Intelligence, will provide an application-aware network architecture designed to support strategic business applications.

    “This agreement with BT is a major milestone on our way to becoming the most customer focused global provider of freight forwarding and logistics solutions,” said Ralf Morawietz, Chief Information Officer at Panalpina. “As our single point of contact for communication services, BT will take away the burden of managing a multitude of different suppliers, and will make it easier for us to implement new services and to support our employees and customers around the globe.”

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  • Ninja Van gets $30m capital boost

    Ninja Van gets $30m capital boost

    Dubai-based Abraaj Group has led a US$30-million Series B round of fundraising for Singapore’s Ninja Logistics (Ninja Van), a technology-enabled last-mile logistics provider with a presence in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and just lately Vietnam.

    Ninja Van plans to use the fresh capital to roll out in the Philippines and Thailand this year, and to also upgrade its systems and triple its customer service headcount.

    Others in the funding round were existing investor Monk’s Hill Ventures joined by B Capital Group and YJ Capital. In its Series A in March last year, the startup raised US$2.5 million. This latest transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to wrap by the end of the month, according to Abraaj.

    Ninja Van uses algorithms to solve complex logistics issues and optimise delivery routes. It also forges partnerships with complementary transport fleets through a capacity-sharing model.

    While starting out as a logistics provider for eCommerce businesses, Ninja Van now supports more than 3000 clients across a range of industries, delivering about 15,000 parcels a day.

    “This vote of confidence from Abraaj and our other new investors will allow us to expand beyond tier-one cities in Southeast Asia,” says Ninja Van cofounder/CEO Lai Chang Wen.

    Abraaj is an investment firm specialising in private-equity investments in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. This is its 28th investment into Southeast Asia.

  • Garuda Indonesia set to achieve its cargo transport target

    Garuda Indonesia set to achieve its cargo transport target

    The Indonesia’s flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia, said it is optimistic cargo transport service would contribute 20 percent to its income this year.

    “I think the target could be achieved. For that purpose we have named a director in charge of cargo transport,” Garuda Indonesia’s commercial director, Toni Soetirto, said here on Tuesday.

    The target has been set by the president director of the airline M Arif Wibowo.

    Soetirto said cargo transport markets in Indonesia include all destination areas in the country. The main cargo transport markets abroad include Middle East, China, Japan and South Korea.

    Garuda Indonesia hopes to raise its income from cargo transport to US$1 billion from around US$275 million a year at present.

    In order to reach the target , the airline hopes to cooperate with other companies in the form of “joint operation” or joint venture such as with state-owned post office company PT Pos Indonesia and international companies.

    The largest international cargo markets are Shanghai in China, Japan and Europe that could reach up to 13-15 tons per day.

    To be in charge of cargo transport, Garuda Indonesia in a shareholder meeting decided to form a new directorate under Sigit Muhartono.

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