DHL, the world's leading express and logistics company, on Thursday announced an additional 110 million US dollars investment to expand its express cargo facility at Hong Kong International Airport.

The money will be used to upgrade operational capability and double the size of DHL's Central Asia Hub to meet the business growth in the region, especially in China, sources with the company said.

It aims at providing the fastest, most reliable and safest service strategically positioned for us to meet the growth in intra-Asia as well as inter-regional trade. It also plays a critical role as a gateway to the Pearl River Delta, which accounts for 40 percent of China's exports.

The company said over 70 percent of DHL's China-in and out-bound shipments are through the Hub in Hong Kong.

In 2004, the Hub handled over 22 million shipments, over 60 percent of which were intra-Asia shipments. In 2005, the Hub will handle more than 30 million shipments.

DHL promised that when the expansion is completed, the Hub will be the first large scale automated express hub in Asia Pacific, and in the process further reduce sorting time and improve sorting quality.

Source: Xinhua