UNITED Arab Shipping Company (UASC) has set up a joint-venture firm together with its long standing agent in Asia, Jardine Shipping Services.

The newly created company, called United Arab Shipping Agency Company (Asia), or UASAC (Asia), was incorporated in Singapore last month. From January, it will assume agency duties in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore through its own entities, and in China, Vietnam and the Philippines through sub-agents.

"We've been working with our friends at Jardine Shipping Services towards this end for some time," said Ken Bloch Soerensen, UASC's president and CEO. "We are pleased to continue our more than 35-year relationship, providing UASC with a solid platform on which to build our future growth in major markets in the Asia Pacific region."

The joint-venture company, in which UASC has a majority shareholding, will maintain its existing office locations worldwide and will continue to provide the full range of UASC's services, a statement from Jardine Shipping Services said.

Lars Christiansen, general manager of UASAC (Asia), said: "For UASC customers it will be a seamless transition as the same people will be serving our customers needs. Going forward we will be able to leverage on the strength of both UASC and Jardine Shipping Services, building increased service offerings."

UASC currently operates eight weekly services from the Far East connecting the sub-continent, Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, east and west Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the US east coast with direct calls at Busan, Kaohsiung, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Chiwan, Yantian, Hong Kong, Singapore and Port Kelang.