GEORGE TOWN: DHL Express, the international express mail service provider, is aiming for positive growth next year following the expansion of its gateway in Penang to be Malaysia’s largest international express facility.

Its chief executive officer for Asia Pacific Jerry Hsu said expanding the Penang gateway was a natural step in this evolution, given Penang’s geostrategic nexus and location mid-way between the growing economies of Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States.

He said the group has invested RM10 million to double the gateway here, in order to support increasing shipment volumes.

“The express industry is still growing, despite the current global economic challenges and expanding our gateway reinforces our commitment to foster a solid base and further enhance our services and capacity to support this growth,” he told reporters here.

He said currently, DHL Express plans to have 92 service points by end-2014 from the current 89.

Earlier, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng officiated the opening of the new DHL Express gateway, which has doubled its size to 4,000 sq. m.

Managing director for Malaysia and Brunei Christopher Ong, said the expansion is part of the group’s RM16 million investment announced early this year to upgrade its facilities and extend its network to cater to Malaysia’s growing logistics demand.

He said Penang’s growth is driven by the technology and manufacturing sectors, which continue to keep DHL’s major trade lanes to the US, Europe and Asia Pacific busy.

“The newly expanded gateway will play a major role in facilitating better connectivity to these key markets with its improved key processes,” he said.

He said the group is also looking at additional aircraft and increasing flight frequency in the next three years in line with the growing needs.– Bernama