Panalpina opens new Vietnam office

PANALPINA, the global forwarding and logistics service provider, has opened an office in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). The office is a joint venture with long-time partner Vinatrans and is located next to the Tan Son Nhat International Airport and the international cargo terminal.

Panalpina chief executive officer, Monika Ribar (right), officially inaugurated the new unit, highlighting the strategic importance of Vietnam for the entire group.

“Our strategy is leading us in the right direction, a direction where innovation and customer focus are key factors for success,” she said. “We will always be where the customers need us and we will always be flexible enough to react quickly to changing market environments – and most of all, we are listening to our customers very carefully and focus on their needs.”

Panalpina has been in Vietnam for almost 20 years. With Vietnam’s recent emergence as a major manufacturing centre, Panalpina has been enjoying – at least, before the recent economic slump – encouraging returns from the country. Panalpina’s Vietnamese airfreight traffic went up 24 per cent in 2008.

Ribar said: “As a global logistics and transport company we are directly affected if less products are produced and sold, thus the global trade volumes are growing less than in previous years, or even declining.”