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With its wide range of
services catered to clients all over the world,
Transways Logistics (M) Sdn Bhd is set to become
a total logistics provider in freight
management.
According to president and chief executive
officer Edward Chan, the group provides a “near
complete” line of logistics services.
“We call ourselves a complete logistics
provider. We offer services from shipping to
warehousing to even in-house customs brokerage
licensing. We are almost complete in terms of
the services that we provide,” he added.
Apart from that, Transways also provides door-to
door services, marine insurance and even special
regular updates on shipment status for important
customers.
“For our 'VVIP' customers, we offer services
that allow them to track their cargo on a daily
basis. With this service, we offer updates such
as customs clearance, duties status or if the
cargo has been damaged,” he added.
Going forward, Chan said the group intended to
include a similar service to all its customers
by having an online tracking service.
“This service, which will be for everybody and
not just selected customers, will give them the
opportunity to track the progress of their
shipment online,” he said, adding that the
group's plan was to have the service implemented
by year-end.
Transways currently services around 800 clients
locally, with around 500 to 600 clients based in
the Klang Valley.
Transways, co-founded by Chan in 1998, started
with only eight people. Today, it employs about
140 people.
“At the moment, we have offices in Port Klang,
Teluk Gong, Kuala Lumpur International Airport,
Ipoh, Penang, Johor Bahru and also in Singapore.
“We have also just opened a new office in
Jakarta and we are looking to set up other
offices primarily within the Asean region such
as Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand,” he
added.
The group also has a warehouse in Port Klang
that is currently being rented out and Chan said
the group was already looking to set up a second
one.
“We have plans for a new warehouse. Right now we
are looking for the right site to build it,
mainly in the Klang Valley. Hopefully, we can
finalise something by year-end,” he said.
Chan also said the group was on target to
achieve a 13% to 15% annual growth in turnover.
Today, Transways' reach extends to over 180
countries and five continents. Its immediate
plans are to focus its operations within the
region.
“We have set up a company, IP Logistics (M) Sdn
Bhd, to focus our operations primarily in the
region,” he said.
It has since established businesses in Malaysia,
Indonesia and Singapore.
“IP Logistics was set up to cater to Asean
clients while Transways will play a more global
role in relation to the group's business
expansion,” Chan said.
He added that the group would be making inroads
into newer markets this year via IP Logistics.
“This year, we will be exploring opportunities
in Thailand and the Philippines,” he said,
adding that it was targeting Vietnam and
possibly Cambodia in 2009.
On the group's focus in Asean, Chan said: “We
want to put our investments into these
countries, especially with the advent of the
Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA).”
Chan said cargo flow within the region was
increasing every year and intensifying business
there would augur well for the group.
“It is our mission to have a presence in all the
Asean countries, either on our own or via a
joint venture,” he said.
On the increase in global oil prices, Chan said:
“Being in this line of business, it is
inevitable that the increase in oil prices will
have an impact on us. And as the price of oil
increases, freight charges will rise as well.”
On a brighter note, Chan added that the huge
volume of cargo handled by logistics providers
would mitigate the rising fuel costs.
“The volume of cargo is still there. There are a
lot of people who still need to buy and sell and
require cargo services and we do not see it
decreasing,” he said.
“This is also in line with the fact that
shipment by sea is cheaper compared with air
shipment,” Chan added.
He also said that with the advent of technology,
freight was also getting bigger and moving
faster, thus making shipping via sea more
reliable and convenient.
Going forward, Chan expects a bright future for
the industry.
“I definitely foresee more sea activities. The
Government is also doing its part by setting up
more terminals and upgrading facilities in Port
Klang.
“This would definitely increase shipping
activities and drive us to improve our services
further,” Chan added.
With a promising future, Chan said the group was
definitely considering going public, but not any
time soon.
“We do hope to go for a listing, but only in
about 10 years,” he said. |
