FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp, today announced that its delivery commitment time has been advanced by five hours, to 1 pm, for all of its International Priority and International Economy shipments from anywhere in the world to Macau.

Backed by a money-back guarantee, this enhancement enables FedEx to offer the earliest delivery time each business day in Macau of any express delivery company.

Customers who rely on time-definite delivery of products with short lifecycles, such as information-related items or other high-value goods, will benefit significantly from this development.

“Macau is seeing growing cross-border transshipment activity with the western Pearl River Delta [WPRD] region,” said Clifton Chua, managing director, FedEx Hong Kong, Macau and the Philippines.

“This, combined with the burgeoning meeting, incentive tour, convention and exhibition sector, means that FedEx's reliable, time-definite service is becoming increasingly important in ensuring the success of Macau’s economy.”

In 2006, the value of imports into Macau reached US$4.6 billion, 45.1 percent of this originating in mainland China, with the WPRD region accounting for the biggest amount.

Re-exports increased by 10.3 percent to $771 million. Re-exports to mainland China, which accounted for 45.7 percent of the total re-exports, grew by 2.2 percent in 2006.

Strengthened by the establishment of the Zhuhai Free Trade Zone, the Hengqin and Lotus Bridge customs facilities and the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, cross-border activity is expected to gain further momentum.

Meanwhile, the new hotels and resorts with world-class convention and exhibition facilities that will open in Macau represent another pool of demand for international express services.