Federal Express set to expand operations

New Delhi, Dec 6: In a bid to become the preferred carrier of express cargo business in India within the next four years, Fedex has decided to expand its operations by entering into four new segments.

"We will enter automobiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering and gems and jewellery segments for our freight services," Mr Jacques Creeten, the company’s managing director for Indian sub-continent, said.

The four new sectors will represent a new dimension on segmentations of Indian express cargo shipments as manufactured exports are yet to take off with garments and perishables dominating the scene till now.

Unfazed by the economic slowdown and the events of September 11, the company which operates a 310 freighter daily into the country, is hopeful of posting an above industry average growth rate.

"We have not seen any slowdown. Our growth in India has continued as the biggest slowdown is in US," Mr Creeten said adding that cargo was down but the market has adjusted.

On his company’s strategic alliance with Blue Dart for local ground operations, Mr Creeten said "all is well in the relationship. I don’t see any reason why it should not continue".

The five-year agreement with Blue Dart expires in October next year.
Fedex which launched its operation in India in 1997 has its own sales office in the country across five cities with 180 people mainly in sales and marketing.

Fedex is divided into five global regions -- the US; Asia Pacific; Canada; and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); Latin America and the Caribbean. The EMEA region is divided into four operational areas -- central and eastern Europe, southern Europe and Africa, northern Europe and Middle East, and Indian sub-continent and sub-Saharan Africa.

The importance of the EMEA region is understood from the fact that it is responsible for activities in 130 of the 210 countries served by Fedex.

— PTI