DHL Global Forwarding is bullish about Philippine prospects in the near term, thanks to the country’s strong economic numbers.
“Freight movements are a timely indicator of both global and local economic trends and our numbers show great promise for the Philippine economy for the rest of the year and moving into 2011,” DHL Global chief executive for Africa and South Asia Pacific Amadou Diallo said.
“With economic growth in the Philippines hitting 7.9% in the first six months of the year and the Asian Development Bank raising the Philippines’ overall 2010 growth outlook to 6.2% in September following the country’s strong recovery, we are reassured of our business prospects here in the Philippines,” Diallo said.
Philippine exports soared close to 40% in the first half of 2010 year on year while imports grew 29.5%, reflecting stronger demand for capital equipment and consumer goods.
In anticipation of such growth, DHL Global opened a new warehouse facility in Pasay City. Launched last week, the more than 10,000-square meter facility cost P40 million to build. It offers 3,500 square meters of warehouse space equipped with security surveillance in addition to 4,000 square meters of fenced container yard space and 2,600 square meters of office space.
The facility increased the total warehouse space of DHL Global in the Philippines to 153,000 square meters. It is ISO 9001- and ISO 14001-certified. Plans are also under way to have it Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA)-certified.
“Foreign investment into Southeast Asia has played and will continue to play a significant role in the growth of the region, especially in the Philippines,” Sam Ang, DHL chief executive, Southeast Asia, said.
“As the new government continues the investment in the Philippines and attracts more foreign direct investments, DHL’s commitment to developing the country’s infrastructure and transportation sector will definitely help fuel further economic growth,” Ang added.
“With our new facility businesses especially in the mining, technology, life sciences, consumer goods and oil and energy industries can look forward to quality logistics service of international standards.”
DHL Global has 33 locations across the Philippines with more than 2,400 employees.
Last year, the company handled close to a million shipments, more than 22,000 tons of air freight and more than 13,000 TEUs of ocean freight throughout the Philippines.
