Hanoi - Vietnam, October 21st, 2010 – TNT, one of the world’s leading express integrators, today launched its expanded and newly-designed integrated air and road Operations Centre located at ICD My Dinh, Hanoi. The launch marks a milestone in the operation of TNT’s Operations Center in the North. The new Operations Centre in Hanoi is TNT’s most modern facility in Vietnam. At three times its original size, the Hanoi Operations Centre is expected to handle up to 100 tons of goods a day or 300% more volume.

Onno Boots, Regional Managing Director of TNT Southeast Asia and India said, “Vietnam has a tremendous growth potential and occupies a strategic position in Asian trade. Within just two years of operations, we had to dramatically scale our operations in Hanoi up and I attribute that to our unique air and road networks that offer customers the flexibility in choice for the best mode of transport that addresses their need. This expanded and advanced Hanoi Operations Centre demonstrates our commitment to the country and our dedication to help businesses in Vietnam thrive, especially on the occasion of Hanoi’s Millenium Anniversary.”

Built at a cost of USD1.5 millions, the new expanded Operations Centre which is three times its original size, boasts state-of-the-art equipment and has the capacity to manage greater domestic and international, road and air freight flows. Operated by more than 100 employees, it is part of TNT’s further expansion plans in response increased demand of freight transportation in and out of Vietnam, Hanoi in particular.

Key features of the expanded Hanoi Operations Centre include:
• Dock levelers at the entrance of the facility
- Created for the loading and unloading of goods from the Asia Road Network trucks, this feature is designed to speed up transit times
• In-house customs processing (TNT is the only one to have such capability)
-  Equipment such as X-ray scanning machines and automated weight and volume scanners to check goods prior to its transportation, thereby improving transit times and security
• Top-rated security system with TAPA ‘A’ certification
- the new facility is equipped with radio-frequency (RF) shipment tracking systems, closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance, and alarm systems giving customers the assurance that their goods are secure

Mr. Hardy Diec, Country General Manager of TNT Vietnam said, “Since the TNT Hanoi facility started operations in 2008, demand for freight has shown a strong growth over 60%. The profile of goods has diversified over the years, from garments and textiles to include high-value goods, such as electronics, high tech gadgets, heath-care products and automotive and industrial equipment. By focusing on offering our customers key benefits through our integrated air and road solutions it brings cost efficiency, speed, security and reliability, we look forward to powering TNT’s operations to the next level of growth in Vietnam.”

Apart from being connected to TNT’s air network, the Hanoi Operations Centre is also linked to TNT’s unique Asia Road Network (ARN) which has been successfully operating in Asia for the past five years. It links Vietnam to six other countries in the region including China and Thailand. TNT recently announced that it will make a further 4.5 million euro investment into its market-leading ARN over the next two years.
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