Fashionable DHL launch centre of excellence
On 17 February, DHL launched their Fashion and Apparel Centre for Excellence, based largely in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, India, to facilitate trade within the region, Europe and North America
Read MoreTag: Sri Lanka
Facelift for Sri Lanka post office network
The post office network will be modernised and given facelift with the introduction of electronic technology. 26 Post offices will be tested on 21 January.
Read MoreDHL boosts South Asia trade with enhanced express services
DHL has enhanced its services within the South Asia/SAARC region with new air and ground express products designed to support trade between the neighbouring countries.
The new products are the expansion of the Blue Dart ‘Road Express’ service to Bangladesh and the introduction of the premium guaranteed money-back service ‘Express 10:30’ in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) covers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives.
During the last few years, DHL Express has made substantial investments of over USD 300 million towards the development and upgrading of its network infrastructure in India, including five gateways in Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata and over 150 retail outlets. In addition, a state-of-the-art Quality Control Centre and large shipment-processing areas aim at providing seamless express and logistics service solutions to Indian exporters.
Read MoreDHL expands within SAARC region
DHL is looking at expanding its business within the SAARC region (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) with an integrated product portfolio that will bolster transportation and trade between SAARC nations.
DHL is the first logistics player to foray into the SAARC segment and plans to service the estimated 120 pound Express market share in the region.
This set of innovative logistics solutions will help in quicker transit times, better customer service through online track and trace, one invoice, door-to-door delivery and special SAARC zone pricing.
These services use DHL’s enhanced infrastructural support to gain direct connections to key SAARC destinations – Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
It has been observed that trade can significantly increase once trade barriers are lifted. According to an AT Kearney study in 2007, with implementation of NAFTA, ASEAN EU in 2003, trade grew significantly by 44 pct, 49 pct & 63pct respectively since implementation.
Rent out post office space to commercial entities
Postal services assets, primarily its islandwide network of post offices and sub post offices could be used to generate additional revenue if space in those outlets are rented out to other commercial establishments, a report said.
The report, which has as its prime focus to enhance the revenue of the loss making Sri Lanka Posts (SLP) was handed over to Posts Minister Mahinda Wijesekera at the SLP Hqrs. bldg,, on Wednesday.
SLP is the only organization having islandwide outlets (some 4,703 outlets) providing “easy” access to every household. This facility will be “gladly” embraced by other institutions that do not have such infrastructure facilities. There are many institutes such as telephone companies, internet service providers, electricity companies, Water Supply Board, insurance companies and local government authorities who want to collect revenue from their customers and are looking for operational space, post offices may fill this vacuum, the report said.
SLP, formerly known as the Postal Department, made a Rs. 2.3 billion loss last year. It has accumulated losses totalling Rs. 11.2 billion over a 12 year period beginning from 1996.
Among the recommendations made in this document which was prepared by Deputy Post Master General K.A.S. Senadhira were to take advantage of the fact that many commercial banks were waiting for a tie-up with SLP to receive more agency services, including using the postal network for foreign money remittance. HSBC already uses post offices for credit card payment settlements.
Read MoreMER Magazine
The Mail & Express Review (MER) Magazine is our quarterly print publication. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, MER is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.