DHL plans to invest some $15 million in Colombia over the next five years to develop its expressbusiness in the South American country. But it has denied reports that it wants to buy one of the
country’s leading domestic courier firms.DHL Express Colombia, which is targeting turnover of $40 million this year, has launched anew domestic express service for items up to 70kgs, offering delivery to 130 destinationsthroughout the country. It is mostly targeted at business customers.
The company’s director Antonio Arranz said by 2011 the company wants to increase its fleet ofvehicles to 500 from 130 at present and to double its workforce to more than 1,000 staff. He toldColombian newspaper Portafolio that the country’s free trade agreement with the USA would generatemore demand for express services.
DHL will be competing with larger Colombian express companies such as Servientrega, TCC andCoordinadora. But Arranz denied reports that DHL was interested in acquiring Servientrega, althoughhe confirmed to the La Republica newspaper that the company was interested in stronger ties withlocal companies.
Servientrega has recently announced regional expansion in Panama, Peru and Spain.
