Correos addresses “unfavourable” Asian business with alliance
Spain’s Correos has struck up a partnership with government-backed cross-border relations agency Casa Asia in the hopes of cracking the Asian market. The national postal service said it hoped the agreement would allow it to strengthen ties with businesses operating between Spain and central Asia, India and the Australasia region.
Casa Asia said the commercial agreement would help Correos develop its international business, mainly its parcels service, with its expertise helping the postal operator meet the specific needs of the region.
The agency, which is backed by the government’s Ministry of Finance as well as municipal authorities in Madrid and Barcelona, said the Spanish postal service had an “unfavourable” level of parcel volumes in the Asia-Pacific region compared to other logistics operators.
The partnership will seek to maximise opportunities and build Correos’ client base in traditional business products, as well as emergent areas like e-commerce.
Services
Correos said the move was part of its overall strategy to increase parcel volumes, and comes alongside a campaign to raise awareness of its six parcel product services, under the new 360-degrees parcels service brand.
Of the six “360” services, Correos’ e-commerce, urgent and exportation services are being introduced in the Asia-Pacific region.
It said most of the business in this area is for importing items from Asia into Spain, but said exports from Spain were also “steadily increasing”.
Casa Asia, which has a main role promoting institutional, cultural and educational links between Spain and Asia, will advise Correos in its international expansion strategy regarding a region it said accounted for 35% of global GDP.
The agency will also represent Correos at regional trade shows and during its high-level bilateral talks with countries including the Philippines, Korea and India. And, Correos believes its partnership will help build its influence within the Kahala Posts Group, the group of 10 postal operators from Europe, Asia and America working together in attempt to compete with the world’s major integrators.
For its part of the agreement, Correos will also become part of Casa Asia’s Business Board of industry advisors, and will sponsor various Casa Asia projects, including the Asia Festival 2012.
Casa Asia said it would also make use of its activities working with Asian communities within Spain to promote awareness of Correos post and parcel services.
