DHL to make India its south Asia hub
Having identified India as one of its four key growth markets in the Asia-Pacific region, global express and logistics company DHL will soon start operations at its first world-class courier terminal at the Delhi international airport.
The terminal, which would have an independent custom-bonded warehouse, would be soon replicated in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata airports as part of plans to make the country a “South Asia hub of choice”, DHL Worldwide Express India Country Manager Chris Callen said.
“This facility will be the first of its kind in India and will be among the best that DHL has built worldwide. We are spending close to Rs 180 million on this project and have committed to go live by October 1, 2003,” he said.
The company has been allocated 2500 square metres of space next to the cargo terminal by the Airports Authority of India for an initial lease of three years.
Terming it as unprecedented in India, Callen said the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has provided the company with independent custodianship of its customers’ consignments in this self-contained facility, which would also house Customs’ staff.
“We envisage that the gateway will enable regional customers to avail services such as express transhipments, express clearances, express exports and express logistics warehousing. With the new facility, DHL will be able to handle by 2008, three times the volume it is handling at present.” he said.
