Transport Logistics China
Scores A Hit

     The Shanghai-held Transport Logistics China (TLC) came hard on the heels of TIACA Calgary causing more than a few people an extended travel schedule earlier this month.
     But by all measure, the work and living out of a suitcase across several time zones paid off.
     TLC, people told FT, proved to be Asia's point number one meeting for logistics in 2006.
     Aramex, Schenker, Cosco Logistics, Infraero Brazilian Airports, MNG Turkish Airlines, K&N, Port of Amsterdam, Dubai Logistics Center, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Iberia Cargo were in evidence.
     But maybe the biggest surprise at this show was the number of companies that showed up from Germany.
     “TLC was a remarkable line up of the transport and logistics industry at Shanghai's New International Expo Centre September 19 to 22,” an attendee told FT.
     “Coming hard on the heels of TIACA in Calgary this show was every bit as important.”
     More than 300 exhibitors presented themselves and their products - an increase of 40 percent compared to the first fair of this kind in the eastern Chinese metropolis two years ago.
     Thus China confirmed its leading position in Asia as a platform for the latest development, technologies, strategies and services in the logistics world.
     Around 9,000 visitors found their way to Shanghai to attend the event, among them German Minister of Transport, Wolfgang Tiefensee who said:

     "I am quite impressed by the strong presence of the German logistics industry, their know-how and expertise here in Shanghai.
     "Not only the well-known global players but also the middle size companies are able to offer Chinese forwarders complex service solutions for all their needs.
     "But logistics is not a one-way street, that's why we are inviting Chinese agents to invest in Europe and especially in Germany with its state-of-the-art infrastructure, the highly skilled workforce and because of its geographical position right in the middle of the continent."
     Norbert Bensel, board member of railroad company Deutsche Bahn AG and Schenker's head of logistics emphasized that the fair was a terrific event for meeting old and new clients.
     "Together with BAX Global we already are in a very strong position in China with branches and warehouses in most of the bigger cities.
     “This market presence we want to strengthen even more in the near future."
     According to Bensel, Schenker will finalize the integration of BAX by the end of 2007.
     "Last January, when the merging process got underway we thought that we'd had to go a long way for uniting both companies that would take three or even four years.
     "But since our businesses don't really overlap and because of our different geographical presence - BAX mainly in
North America, Schenker in Europe - we are able to consolidate our businesses a lot earlier." The statement confirmed what many had thought, that from January 2008 the BAX name will no longer exist.
     Quite satisfied with the logistics fair was also Jost Hellman, General Manager of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.
     "It's the right location at the right time because business is thriving here in Shanghai.
     "The extraordinary presence of German business at this show underscores that we are global trendsetters in this industry."
     Hellmann confirmed that he’d be back in two years when Transport Logistic China will again meet for the third time from June 17-20, 2008 in Shanghai.
     In the meantime the logistics industry will gather in Munich in June 2007. Trade Fair Munich (Messe München) as the same driver and organizer of TLC shifts every other year focus of these events to Europe.
Heiner Siegmund