IMPROVED LOGISTICS SERVICES

DHL launches Economy Select Service that offers up to 30% in cost savings
April 22, 2009, 3:49pm

DHL Philippines, the leading express and logistics company, announced the launch of its full suite of intra-Asia DHL Economy Select service to include both inbound and outbound shipments in the Philippines and 17 other locations in Asia Pacific. DHL Economy Select offers the convenience of door-to-door delivery of non-time-sensitive, inbound and outbound consignments within Asia Pacific, at attractive prices, without any compromise in service quality or access to DHL’s in-house customs expertise.

Unlike DHL’s premium guaranteed ‘time-definite, next-day’ service to most locations within Asia Pacific, DHL Economy Select service has a transit period of between two to four business days, depending on location. However, customers will enjoy further cost savings of up to 30 percent, especially for shipments of over 45 kg. With DHL Economy Select, the shipments are handled at the same level of service appropriated to other smaller, time-sensitive parcels, allowing customers to benefit from full end-to-end checkpoint visibility and simplified paperwork due to the provision of a single invoice with no hidden transportation costs upon delivery.

“As the market leading Express player, we’re mindful of the current economic climate and have developed a product tailored to meet our customers’ needs. With the near-term economic outlook, businesses are looking at every aspect of their operating costs. With up to 30 per cent cost savings for shipments over 45kg, DHL Economy Select offers customers the flexibility of sending less urgent items at a reduced cost, but with the assurance of the security and reliability of our premier Express services”, said Dan McHugh, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific.

“DHL Economy Select is an ideal economic and cost-effective delivery service for less urgent business-to-business shipments, while still offering the hassle-free convenience of a door-to-door service that DHL is known for,” said Ahmad Mohamad, DHL Country Manager for the Philippines. “We have always been committed to offering a wider range of services to our customers to give the flexibility to choose which type of service is perfect for their changing needs.”

“Since our launch in October last year, DHL Economy Select has been widely received among customers in the Philippines. Driven by the strong demand for the service, it’s timely for us to extend DHL Economy Select to inbound shipments as well, as we continue to offer greater cost efficiencies for our customers,” Ahmad Mohamad added.

DHL Economy Select is now available as a fully inbound and outbound intra-Asia service offering in Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. This service will be extended between Asia Pacific/ Europe and Asia Pacific/ US by Q4 2009.

DHL is the global market leader of the international express and logistics industry, specializing in providing innovative and customized solutions from a single source.

DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. More than 300,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations.

DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of P60 billion in 2006.

BlogNote: This is what service is all about. Its about going beyond what is already being provided. This augurs well for the economy in facing up with the sort of weakening economy that we are in now.

Malaysia's Economic Outlook

The following are excerpts from the article written by Khoo Kay Peng at khookaypeng.blogspot.com. It sure does make a good read.

1. Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate was forecasted to drop to zero percent as the global financial crisis evolved into a deepening sub-regional industrial crisis in Southeast Asia, according to the United Nations' regional arm, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap).

2. Escap observed that the crisis has moved rapidly from its first stage of a financial crisis emanating from developed countries and causing contagion in Asia and the Pacific, to a second stage of crisis for the real economy in the region based on plummeting exports and curtailed domestic demand.

3. The organisation believed that Southeast Asia could be among the most affected by the crisis, given its integrated industrial production base and linkages to the global supply chain, thus deepening unemployment. It expected an overall economic growth rate of 1.2 percent for Southeast Asia this year, the lowest among the developing Asia Pacific sub-regions.

4. This situation does not augur well for the country. Based on several observations, the unemployment rate is expected to climb to more than 5% by the end of this year. The economy is heavily dependent on FDIs and exports to support growth. Both of them have plummeted this year. A number of companies I have spoken too are taking precautions by averting financial and investment risks. Most of them will not make any new investment this year.

5. This will result in further reduction in jobs creation. The main problem for the country is how to generate enough jobs for the society if the economy is projected at zero growth. It will be difficult for Malaysia to create enough jobs at 3-4 percent growth, worse if it is at zero percent. Another 600,000 are expected to join the job market this year. The government has offered grants to those who are interested to pursue postgraduate degrees. However, this offer is not expected to reduce the number of new entrants significantly.

6. Another worry is policy flip-flops from the government. It has imposed a double levy on foreign workers but was told to review its decision by several BN leaders. The ministry of human resource has postponed the levy hike by another month. It will have to decide on it soon. I have argued that the issue of foreign workers will have to be analysed in a long term perspective. Sending back low skilled and cheap foreign workers will not create immediate jobs for the locals. Most of them are not willing to work in the same environment as the foreign workers.

7. The government needs a firm review on these areas:

* Address immediate economic bottlenecks e.g. technology and production gaps, skills gap, industrial development process, archaic labour, investment and trade rules and regulations etc.;
* Create new industries and new jobs;
* Address important issues on market reforms to strengthen private sector governance, rationalize the role of GLCs;
* Promote transparency in GLCs such as EPF, Khazanah and SOCSO;
* Enhance key performance indicators on public projects and announce the members of the technical monitoring committee on the second stimulus publicly;
* Pursue real process improvements in the public sector to cut and reduce wastage and inefficiency;
* Regain public confidence on the economy; and
* Rebuild the administration confidence

8. The main problem remains the lack of political discipline within the ruling coalition. We want more serious, non-partisan and non-rhetorical discourse and discussion on the economy. So far, the government has provided us with neither direction nor leadership.

9. The work is cut out for Najib but the nation's focus will be drifted again to the by-elections. After 7th April, expect Penanti and Bukit Lanjan to follow up. When can we start to focus on the economy despite the gloom?