Global cargo carriers expand Taiwan bases

DHL, Federal Express and UPS are expanding their business in Taiwan, building more cargo service centers, signing up more airlines, as well as improving hardware and software facilities so as to provide integrated business solutions. An investment of NT$1 billion by DHL Taiwan has underway going since 2000. The project has established six large-scale service centers in Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, and another will be completed in Taoyuan by the end of this year. When DHL CEO Uwe Doerken visited Taiwan last October, he expressed his belief in Taiwan’s future as a geographical and economic transshipment center connecting to the Pacific Rim. UPS pointed out earlier that the demand for freight services rose 15 percent in 2003, and it is expected that 2004 will have better prospects following the global economy recovery. Having a presence since 1996, UPS chose Taiwan as its first-ever, and yet still only, pan-Asia transshipment center. Apart from providing more cargoes leaving from Taipei, UPS also plans to increase its service outlets across the island as economic indicators show positive signs. There will be new outlets launched in the first half of this year, and most of them will be in the Northern Taiwan, UPS says. FedEx Express Taiwan will provide more their cargo services, and will try to offer integrated business solutions.