Austrian Post marks expansion into Azerbaijan and one year of successful parcel delivery in Slovenia
Aras Kargo, the Turkish parcel services provider majority-owned by Austrian Post, has taken an important step towards internationalisation as it now holds a 75% stake in Star Express, a parcel service provider in Azerbaijan operating under the well-known Starex brand.
In a statement sent to Post&Parcel today (27 July), Peter Umundum, Member of the Management Board, Parcels & Logistics (COO), Austrian Post, said: “This acquisition in Azerbaijan opens a gateway to new geographical markets in Central Asia and the Middle East. We are accompanying major Turkish mail-order customers from the fashion industry to Azerbaijan and helping them to fully exploit the potential of cross-border e-commerce.”
Azerbaijani consumers shopping with Turkish e-commerce companies will now enjoy a seamless end-to-end delivery service and sellers on platforms already working with Star Express in Azerbaijan will benefit from improved delivery conditions through Aras Kargo’s capabilities.
Star Express was founded in 2018 and, operating under the Starex brand, it delivers national and international parcel shipments in Azerbaijan, with a focus on import shipments from fast-growing e-commerce countries such as Turkey, China and the United States of America. The logistics services include cross-border transports, e-commerce solutions, fulfilment services as well as courier and customs services. Starex operates over 250 locations in Azerbaijan where parcels can be picked up or returned.
The remaining 25% of the company will remain with Sabir Niftaliyev, one of the founders of Star Express. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Meanwhile, another important milestone in Austrian Post’s international network was recently reached in Slovenia. Express One SI has been successfully operating in the Slovenian market for one year. The parcel service provider has two logistics centres in Maribor and Ljubljana, with its headquarters in Komenda. In addition to these locations, several delivery bases ensure nationwide delivery throughout Slovenia. Austrian Post’s logistics centre in Kalsdorf, Styria, also plays a central role in the distribution of import and export parcels.
Umundum commented: “Our first year in Slovenia was a complete success. We have established a nationwide network and can now continuously increase parcel volumes, which makes us increasingly attractive for international and Austrian shippers. Since we also want to set new standards in parcel delivery in Slovenia, we are focusing not only on quality but also on sustainability in delivery.”
Express One SI is primarily aimed at B2B and B2C customers. The services include express shipments, returns, cash on delivery, rerouting to other addresses or parcel shops, notifications by text message, email, Viber app or phone, and parcel insurance. Modern pick-up stations can be opened using a smartphone app, and they can also be used for payment. Parcels are delivered within Slovenia on the first working day after posting.
