Boosting China's high-tech footprint

Steve Huang leads freight major DHL Global Forwarding's efforts to fuel trade through logistics

The Made in China 2025 strategy, launched in 2015, is having a positive impact on China's trade already, said a logistics veteran.

That's because demand for Chinese high-tech goods is rising, necessitating world-class logistics, said Steve Huang, 53, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding Greater China, an international provider of air, sea and road freight services.

The 2025 strategy, which aims to upgrade the country's manufacturing sector and turn China into a global manufacturing giant, has been driving up production of Chinese high-tech goods and thus reducing dependence on imports of finished products.

With almost 30 years of experience in the logistics industry, Huang sees the 2025 strategy boosting China's prowess in fields like IT, robotics and biopharmaceuticals, given the already rising business of freight forwarding related to these fields. Exports will likely rise as well, he said.

He has already served DHL Global Forwarding for more than a quarter of a century. "We expect the import of raw materials and electronic parts needed for production will continue to increase, which augurs well for the logistics industry.

"As this translates into greater flow of goods into and out of China, companies will need sound logistics infrastructure and support to enable the smooth movement of their goods across borders. DHL is well-positioned to help our customers enlarge their global footprint and facilitate trade around the world with our global network and comprehensive solutions."

In response to growing air-based trade and the booming cross-border e-commerce in East China, DHL Global Forwarding recently launched chartered bi-weekly flights connecting Incheon in South Korea, Wuxi in China and Frankfurt and Hahn in Germany. This is expected to further facilitate the Made-in-China products to go global.

"China is the world's second-largest economy and is already the largest global trading partner for Germany and South Korea. With China becoming a strong import and export market, coupled with rising domestic consumption, there are opportunities for further trade growth with its partners," Huang said.

"China's push to boost higher-quality global exports and domestic consumer spending will continue to fuel global trade."