Taiwan-based Panda Logistics Ltd is expanding in Hong Kong, which will strengthen its business with mainland China, said company's vice chairman Steve Chou.
Mr Chou said Panda's Hong Kong business includes global air and ocean transport, transshipping service for import and export cargo, bonded trucking between Hong Kong, the mainland and Vietnam, customs brokerage, documentation, slot ordering and insurance services.
Panda Logistics also offers warehousing, as well as online warehouse information and packaging, labelling and barcode reading services. Panda concentrates export transshipments in designated warehouses and sends out individual employees to large factories to help its customers solve any difficulties before they arise as problems further down the supply chain.
Hong Kong has advantages over the mainland and Taiwan, he said as its is rich in expertise, management experience in dealing with overseas customers and has a closer relationship with mainland, favourable laws and regulations and a good location and high efficiency with greater application of high technologies. Besides, the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge will facilitate development of the local logistics industry.
But Mr Chou suggested that Hong Kong still should strengthen the co-operation with its mainland peers to complement each other's advantages and make its strategic positioning achieve a breakthrough.
Mature east Asian ports, like Shanghai, Shekou, Yantian and Singapore, are growing more competitive, putting more pressure on Hong Kong. Meanwhile, he pointed out that demand for Hong Kong logistics comes mostly from outside. Under such circumstances, Hong Kong's logistics industry may be edged out. While mainland's advantages in geographical location, fast economic growth, network, familiarity of the local culture and regulations can help Hong Kong alleviate the crisis.
When asked about the future plan of Panda Logistics in mainland and China, Mr Chou said he expected the company would become a strong professional team to provide all-around global logistics services on the both sides of the Taiwan straits.
Headquartered in Taipei, Panda Group was founded in April 1989 with branches covering major world cities including Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Qingdao, Ningbo, Changsha, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Ho Chi Minh City, Penang, Los Angeles and Chicago. Panda has over 200 agents in 120 countries.
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