******************************************************
One of the worldˇ¦s largest container shipping companies and the flagship of Israeli shipping, Zim Integrated Shipping Services, has expanded its presence in Hong Kong as part of a proactive strategy to enhance its regional development. Zim recently completed the full ownership of its well established agency in Hong Kong, and its established logistic arm ˇV Zim Logistics HKG Ltd - to deepen the companyˇ¦s direct presence in the city.
ˇ§This area is the largest and most active region within our company, and we find Hong Kong as an excellent base for further expanding of the company penetration into China and the Asia Pacific region,ˇ¨ the President - Asia Pacific Region of Zim, Captain I Dafni, said.
Zim is the 13th largest container shipping company in the world. It operates a large and modern fleet of 95 vessels offering a variety of global and regional services.
Sun Hing Shipping, regarded as one of the most active shipping agencies in Hong Kong, was founded in 1945, and has been the General Agent in Hong Kong for Zim since the late 1950s. The new company name will be Sun Hing Agencies Ltd.
According to Captain Dafni, the additional investment in Hong Kong, one of the most important shipping hubs in the world, would strengthen the companyˇ¦s regional network which offered customers excellent connections to the rest of the world. The companyˇ¦s network now covers the Mediterranean, Europe, the US, Central and South America, Africa and Asia.
The Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Simon Galpin, welcomed Zimˇ¦s expansion in Hong Kong. ˇ§Zimˇ¦s decision to strengthen its direct presence in Hong Kong demonstrates our leading position as a base for shipping companies to develop and grow their business across the region," he said. "In addition to Zim, many major players in the container shipping industry have established regional offices or operations here, making our city the most dynamic shipping hub in Asia. We congratulate Zim on its expansion in Hong Kong, and look forward to celebrating its further growth in the region through Hong Kong.ˇ¨
Zim operates a network of subsidiaries and affiliated companies globally with particularly vast investments and network in Greater China including own offices for shipping activities and for logistics activities. The company offers a range of shipping-related, customised services to meet clientsˇ¦ needs, including freight-forwarding, customersˇ¦ brokerage, off-dock container terminals, warehousing, trucking, container repair and maintenance, maritime communications and navigation equipment, logistics, insurance and more. For additional information about the company, please visit the website at www.zim.co.il.
Invest Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government department charged with encouraging and facilitating inward investment into the city by providing all the support needed to establish a business presence here. For more information, please visit the website at www.investhk.gov.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, November 8, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:56
NNNN
