DHL plots India expansion
DHL Worldwide Express, a unit of Deutsche Post World Net, plans to invest millions in India for new infrastructure, customer service centers, and warehouses.
“We are looking at India very, very positively,” said Country Manager Chris Callen in Mumbai. “India represents one of the four key markets for us – the others are China, Japan and Australia.”
Callen didn’t give specific investment figures, but said these would be in “many millions of euros.”
The Deutsche Post group operates in India through two joint ventures. DHL Worldwide Express India Pvt. Ltd. is in a joint venture with AFL Ltd., while Danzas has linked up with the Mumbai-based Lemuir group.
Callen said the company’s business in India had grown by 30 percent in the first quarter of this year, and projected at least 25 percent expansion in the coming months. He said DHL would focus on the metropolitan cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Calcutta for increased cargo traffic.
DHL has been expanding and offering new services not just in India but in neighboring countries such as well. Earlier this month DHL began offering streamlined Customs clearance for Sri Lanka imports. In December, DHL signed up with Pakistan Post to offer co-branded parcel booking across that country.
