Kerry Logistics enters JV with Globalink Logistics, expands in CIS region

In an effort to broaden its presence in the Central Asian region, Kerry Logistics has partnered with Dubai-based Globalink Logistics DWC, a freight forwarding group with extensive operations across The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The joint venture will “significantly expand Kerry Logistics’ coverage in Central Asia and the CIS, opening the door to potential markets with tremendous growth prospects,” the Hong Kong-based logistics company said. The deal also allows Kerry to leverage its extensive rail network experience, to access important landlocked markets in the region.

The partnership will see nine countries added to Kerry Logistics’ global network. They include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine.

“The new partnership will allow the two groups to leverage each other’s competitive strengths and provide new options and cost-efficient multimodal solutions to our customers,” said William Ma, group managing director of Kerry Logistics.

Ma added that Kerry Logistics would continue to develop an overland transportation network for road, rail and multimodal freight services from China to Central Asia and Europe.

Kerry is already operating rail freight operations between China and Europe. The logistics company was behind the first westbound charter freight from Yiwu, in Eastern China, to Madrid in August 2016. Thomas Blank, Kerry Logistics’ managing director for Europe, said that the company has already had customers shifting cargo from seafreight to rail, shortening the transit time.