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Deutsche Post DHL to invest €100 m in India [GCTL Insights Magazine (China)](GCTL Insights Magazine (China) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) MUMBAI, Aug 28 (GCTL) - Deutsche Post DHL (DPDHL) is set to invest €100 million (about ?797 crore) over the next two years in India, a market it has chosen to pilot the development of e-commerce services for the Asia-Pacific region. The logistics major will spend in developing e-fulfilment centres, procuring new aircraft and expanding the range of payment and delivery options in India through its BSE-listed unit Blue Dart Express, said Frank Appel, CEO of DPDHL. Blue Dart Express works with several online retailers such as Flipkart, Snapdeal, Urban Ladder and others. "This region is expected to soon surpass North America and Europe as the biggest online market in the world…there is huge opportunity for us to become the world's leading provider of e-commerce logistics and we have infrastructure in India to pilot our solutions," Appel said at a news conference here on Tuesday, Business Line reported. Multiple delivery options and cash on delivery capabilities were two key needs identified by India's top online shoppers as part of a 20-country consumer survey carried out by DHL e-commerce. Anil Khanna, Managing Director Officer of Blue Dart Express said that the company will set up 15 new e-fulfilment centres across cities such as Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai in the next few years. The first such centre will come up in a 40,000-sq ft space in Delhi later this year, added Khanna. These centres help e-tailers to reduce overall cost overhead by bringing the warehouses closer to consumers. Blue Dart Aviation, a unit of Blue Dart Express, intends to induct another Boeing 757 Freighter aircraft to its fleet in 2015. The aircraft, which will be dry leased from the DPDHL Group, will be the latest addition to the company's fleet consisting of five other aircraft. (c) 2014 FocusAsia Media Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |