China’s SME Freight Forwarders Target Emerging Markets

Logistics Insight Asia - Industry News, 13/10/2008

China’s SME freight forwarders are refocusing their marketing efforts on developing business in the emerging markets of Africa, Central Asia and Central Europe according to Henrik Christensen, Chairman and CEO of the China Logistics Club and co-organizer of the 6th International Freight Forwarders and Logistics Co-operation Forum scheduled to be held in Ningbo from November 5 to 7.

Trade between Africa and China exceeded $75billion in 2007; having grown by 43% per annum on a compound basis for the last 5 years. Soaring trade between Africa and China is a contributing factor in the continent’s fastest economic growth rate in years, with GDP growth for 2007 averaging an impressive 6.1%.

“With the falling freight rates and yield on the traditional Asia-Europe and Transpacific routes many of our members are now shifting their focus on higher yielding markets particularly Africa,” said Christensen.

“China has made significant investments in infrastructure projects and the manufacturing sector in Africa and the growth in that trade has been dramatic during the last two years. The same can be said of Central Asia where the new oil and gas industry has led to rapid growth in the regional economies and a corresponding increase in trade with China,” added Christensen.

Speakers at the Ningbo Forum will include speakers from companies based in the emerging markets of Hungary, Africa, Russia and Kazakhstan.

INFORMATION ON THE FORUM

· The 6th International Freight Forwarders and Logistics Co-operation Forum will be held from November 5th-7th, at the Sheraton Ningbo, 50 Caihong Rd (N), Ningbo , Zhejiang Province 315040, China.

· The Forum is co-organized by the China Logistics Club, Ningbo Association Of Port-Of-Entry (NAP) and Jiangdong People’s Government, Ningbo Municipality

China Logistics Club, www.chinalogisticsclub.com