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DHL to create faster links between Asia and the rest of the world

Posted by | Nov 26, 2007 | |

DHL announced its decision to establish a USD 175 million DHL Express North Asia Hub in Shanghai, China. This new facility, to be located at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, will build on DHL’s already extensive global network and provide better connections from Asia to the US and Europe.

The development of the North Asia Hub is part of DHL’s ‘hubs and spokes’ regional air network strategy. Hubs like Shanghai, are optimally positioned to reduce transit times and distances within the regions but also ensure that the region is better connected with the rest of the world. Shanghai will provide added flexibility for its customers with guaranteed Time Definite morning delivery for more major cities in North Asia.
DHL has been working to further boost its global aviation strategy, and provide better global transport links for its customers. This year it entered two important strategic partnerships: in June, DHL Express completed a strategic partnership transaction with air cargo carrier Polar Air, in which DHL Express holds a 49 percent stake; in September, DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo also established a joint cargo airline. These partnerships, effective from late-2008 and April 2009 respectively, will enable DHL to meet the anticipated strong increase in demand for cargo space between Asia Pacific and Europe as well as the US, providing customers with assured long-term airlift capacity for their shipments.

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Postcomm confirms changes following review of 2006-10 Price Control

Posted by | Nov 26, 2007 | |

Postcomm, the independent regulator for postal services, has, following a consultation, decided to confirm its proposals made in August 2007 that Royal Mail should be given extra flexibility to increase some retail prices and that access margins should be left unchanged. These decisions are in response to the requests by Royal Mail, TNT Post and UK Mail for a review of some aspects of the 2006-10 Price Control.

As set out in Postcomm’s proposals document published in August, this decision would allow Royal Mail to raise the price of a second class stamp to 29p by 2010, subject to inflation (the original price cap was 26p). The price cap on a first class stamp will not be affected by this decision.

In addition, Postcomm has decided to reject the requests from Royal Mail, TNT Post and UK Mail to change the margin between Royal Mail’s prices for bulk mail products and the amount Royal Mail charges other mail operators for access to its network and delivery of bulk mail over the ‘final mile’. Royal Mail had wanted to reduce the margin and the two Access operators argued that it should be increased.

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Blockbuster tests video-rental kiosks

Posted by | Nov 26, 2007 | |

Blockbuster Inc. has begun testing movie rental kiosks at Papa John’s pizza outlets and Family Dollar stores. Movies at the kiosks will be available for USD 1, substantially less than the cost for rentals at regular Blockbuster stores.

The Blockbuster Express kiosks, which are about the size of a vending machine and hold 250 movies, are in three Papa John’s International Inc. locations and seven Family Dollar Stores Inc. outlets in the Lexington, Ky., area, said Karen Raskopf, a spokeswoman for Blockbuster.

The kiosks may help Blockbuster fend off DVDPlay Inc. and Redbox Automated Retail, jointly owned by McDonald’s Corp. and Coinstar Inc. The two companies have lured customers from Blockbuster and Movie Gallery Inc. movie rental stores by offering USD 1 DVD rentals at supermarkets, drugstores and McDonald’s restaurants.

“It’s a natural affinity,” Papa John’s Chief Executive Nigel Travis said. “You are seeing a consolidation of food and entertainment. It definitely drives traffic.”

Recently released DVDs typically rent for USD 4 for five days at a Blockbuster store. The USD 1 DVD rentals can be returned to any Blockbuster Express kiosk, not just the location where the movie was rented, Raskopf said.

Blockbuster also is testing kiosks in fast-food restaurants and other unspecified stores around the U.S., Raskopf said. Papa John’s, which will have three kiosks in rural towns in another state, said customers would be able to rent the movies when they pick up carryout orders. They can’t get the USD 1 rental when ordering pizza that will be delivered.

Shares of Dallas-based Blockbuster fell 11 cents Wednesday to USD 3.76.

Blockbuster is considering kiosks and vending machines where customers can rent movies or burn copies directly to a DVD, Chief Executive James Keyes has said.

“We think vending is probably the fastest-growing segment right now,” Keyes said in an interview this month. “The next bigger trend is for vending, and we are well positioned to be able to play through an electronic kiosk.”

Papa John’s, based in Louisville, Ky., has linked pizza with DVDs before, with promotions in the last two years with films such as “Spider-Man 3.” The chain wants to see if the kiosks help increase the number of customers, Travis said.

Blockbuster is seeking to boost in-store sales as the number of ways consumers can obtain movies has increased. Customers can rent DVDs online at Netflix Inc. and have them delivered by mail, download TV shows at Amazon.com Inc. or watch video-on-demand through their cable provider.

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DHL Vietnam expands its fleet

Posted by | Nov 25, 2007 | |

DHL has reinforced its commitment in Vietnam with the expansion of its fleet.

This expansion will extend the pick and delivery capability of DHL–VNPT Express and bolster the company’s market position.

DHL–VNPT has the largest fleet in the industry with over 100 vehicles, including motorbikes, trucks, and pick-up vans.

General Director of DHL–VNPT Express Ltd., Tim Baxter, said “The new fleet directly benefits our customers, with faster transit times and better direct service.

“The decision to expand our fleet in Vietnam reinforces DHL Express’ commitment to enhance our service offerings so that our customers can rely on efficient and reliable first-rate express and logistics service through DHL.”

The company will continue investment in network expansion, ground infrastructure, personnel development and improved processes to support business growth, he said.

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Bahrain is taking a lead in the Gulf region for smooth management of money transfers.

Posted by | Nov 24, 2007 | |

Bahrain is taking a lead in the Gulf region for smooth management of money transfers.
The Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, HE Anwar Khalifa Al Sadah met with IAMTN CEO Lady Olga Maitland at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Manama following a conference on money laundering.

In the course of his remarks Mr. Al Sadah discussed the regulatory regime established by the Central Bank which is having an impact on the huge market of money transfers.

He told Lady Olga,” We are pleased that with Bahrain established as a financial centre, our regulatory regime is now well established. We work closely with the compliance officers in local banks as well as the money service businesses. As a result we feel that we have made headway in a challenging area.”

Also present was Michael Lee, CEO of Ithmaar Bank, Bahrain.

He agreed with Mr al Sadah, “We are fortunate that the Central Bank of Bahrain is the most seasoned regulatory authority in the region.

In his presentation to the conference he added:

“Each country should establish serious penalties such as monetary fines to ensure the effectiveness of the compliance regime. The Central Bank, investment regulators, and other supervisory agencies.together with the criminal enforcement agencies, need to educate the private sector as to possible abuse.”

Says Lady Olga,”With such a buoyant market in money transfers; monies moving in many forms from cash to formal payments via money service businesses or banks, it takes particular energy to try to maintain the highest possible standards.”

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