Increased export, import boost freight forwarding trade *****

FE Team | Published: April 24, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Md Jamal Uddin
Freight forwarding business gets momentum in the country as volume of export and import has increased. Market size of the industry by sea was 1,024,783 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) in 2010, said Country Head of DHL Global Forwarding Nooruddin Chowdhury. In the year 2010, the size of the business increased by 1,53,508 TEUs which was 8,71,275 TEUs in 2009, he said and added that in last six years growth of import was 101 per cent and export 75.68 per cent. By air, the business size was maximum 10 per cent, he noted. In an exclusive interview with the FE at his office, Mr Chowdhury said his company has already achieved significant growth within one year after forming a joint venture in 2010. He said many local and foreign companies are now involved with the business thanks to its significant growth. The business covers all kinds of logistic services including end-to-end solutions for garments, jute and jute products, pharmaceuticals, electronic and telecommunication goods, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) like rice, dairy products, edible oil, juices, biscuits and cakes, ketch up, spices, mayonnaise and canned foods. "We have handled thousands of shipments during 2010," he said and added that DHL Global Forwarding offers a wide portfolio of logistics solutions including international air and ocean freight, customs clearance, warehousing, local distribution, project cargo and various value-added services. "We have launched recently a DHL Fashion and Apparel Centre of Excellence in Dhaka to capitalise on this fast-growing logistics sector worth an estimated US$3.90 billion per annum in South Asia," he mentioned. Our company's vision is to be one of the leading logistics companies of the world by 2015 and we are well-positioned to do so with our presence in more than 220 countries and territories, the industry man informed the FE. The largest contribution to the company's exports business comes from fashion and apparel companies in France, Italy and Germany while imports comes from telecommunications companies from Northern Europe as well as China. "My plan is to leverage on this investment to introduce Services of DHL Global Forwarding, for example; custom clearance, ocean freight, air freight, transportation, supply chain and warehousing for businesses in Bangladesh, and ensure operational excellence," the DHL Global Forwarding Bangladesh head said. He suggested that the government can play an important role in generating more revenue for the country by improving its infrastructure to cope with the ever growing export markets, especially at ports and airports. Speaking on business challenges, Mr Nooruddin said customers are facing various difficulties relating to customs clearance during exportimport documentation. He welcomes a healthy competition landscape in the industry to bring about innovation and high performance services for customers. "At DHL, we perceive ourselves as facilitators of trade," he said, mentioning that DHL helps both local and multinational companies to bring their products to markets across the world and to import items that are not available in the domestic market." At present, DHL Global Forwarding is running with 250 staffs in Bangladesh, Mr Nooruddin said the company is also working on making a positive contribution to the community through different activities under the company's three pillars of its sustainability programme: GoHelp, GoGreen and GoTeach.