Hong Kong-based freight forwarding and logistics company Baltrans has announced the integration of two of its entities in China as of 16 October, 2006.

The new 'service platform' as Baltrans calls the business unit, will operate under the trade name of BALtrans Logistics, and will be headquartered in Shanghai. The aim of this integration is to eliminate duplication of resources, provide focus for future IT investments as well as improve efficiency and risk management of the company's present logistics network along the coastal regions of China.

The new business entity will be headed by Peter Chu, currently managing director at Baltrans for the People's Republic of China region. Chu said: "With the two teams combined, customers can expect to benefit from more focused allocation of resources by the company and an even higher degree of accountability."

Henrik von Sydow, chief executive of BALtrans added: "The integration will take the company another step closer to becoming a global freight forwarding and logistics service provider with a strong platform in China. The newly strengthened platform will ensure we provide the level of service desired by our customers around the world and at the same time by eliminating duplicated functions yield economies of scale benefits."